Nets’ Ben Simmons ‘Credited’ During Holdout Year With Sixers

Brooklyn Nets' Ben Simmons has been credited with a year of service, despite not playing for the Sixers in 2021-2022.
Nets’ Ben Simmons ‘Credited’ During Holdout Year With Sixers
Nets’ Ben Simmons ‘Credited’ During Holdout Year With Sixers /

The Philadelphia 76ers were willing to get uncomfortable in the infamous Ben Simmons saga two seasons ago. Although Simmons was hopeful of receiving a trade following the 2021 NBA Playoffs, his wishes weren’t granted quickly enough.

When the Sixers showed up in Camden, New Jersey, for training camp, Simmons was a no-show. Philadelphia started fining the three-time All-Star guard. Eventually, Simmons showed up to training camp, which caused awkward tension and even led to him getting kicked out of one of the team’s practices. As a result, Simmons was suspended for the team’s season-opener.

Ben Simmons was around the Sixers for the 2021-2022 season in some capacity. Although he didn’t travel with the team and wasn’t around the squad on game nights when they were home, he would show face at practice and shootarounds. The Sixers hoped that, at some point, Simmons would return to the floor. However, he was deemed not ready.

Eventually, Simmons received his wish to be traded. In February of 2022, Simmons was the Brooklyn Nets’ key acquisition in the trade that sent James Harden to Philadelphia. While Simmons didn’t return to the court to make his debut for the Nets right away, he started ramping up action within a couple of weeks. 

Unfortunately for Simmons, his body didn’t receive the ramp-up well. In late March of 2022, Simmons was diagnosed with a herniated disk in his back. Shortly after, the Nets ruled him out for the rest of the year. The 2021-2022 season passed without Simmons logging a single minute.

Although Simmons didn’t play for the Sixers or the Nets that year, the NBA’s new collective bargaining agreement played in Simmons’s favor. According to ESPN’s Zach Lowe, Simmons was credited for a year of service for the 2021-2022 season. 

“Years of service come into play when determining whether players are eligible for maximum contracts of certain sizes and for other benefits. Counting the 2021-22 season at issue, Simmons now has seven official years of service in the NBA. Officials from several teams had argued Simmons should not receive credit for the 2021-22 season, sources said. The side letter is intended as a standalone, applying only to Simmons, and is not intended to set precedent for future cases, sources told ESPN.”

Simmons eventually made his Brooklyn debut the following year at the beginning of the season. His first run with the Nets lasted 42 games, which included nine games coming off the bench after starting every game he appeared in during previous seasons. 

During the 42-game stretch, Simmons averaged 26 minutes on the court. Production-wise, he averaged seven points, six rebounds, six assists, and one steal while draining 57 percent of his shots. Throughout the year, Simmons battled knee and back injuries. After getting diagnosed with a nerve impingement, Brooklyn ruled him out indefinitely. 

The Nets went on to clinch a spot in the 2023 NBA Playoffs, where they faced the 76ers in the first round. Although Simmons was around the team for two of the four games, he didn’t suit up and play. At this point, the Nets are hopeful he can get healthy and back on track for his third season with the team. 


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Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Title: Credentialed writer/reporter covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation Email: JustinGrasso32@Gmail.com Location: Philadelphia, PA Expertise: Reporting, insight, and analysis on the Sixers and the NBA  Justin Grasso is a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s FanNation.  Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writer’s Association.  Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoNBA