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UPDATE: To the surprise of the 76ers organization, Ben Simmons flew to Philadelphia and reported to the team Monday night at the Wells Fargo Center, where Philadelphia was taking on Brooklyn in a preseason game, reports Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN. Simmons took a COVID test, the first step in his return to practicing and playing.

Doc Rivers and Joel Embiid react to Ben Simmons’ return to Philadelphia.

Simmons has arrived in Philadelphia and taken a COVID-19 test, as reported by ESPN.

Sixers All-Star Ben Simmons has arrived in Philadelphia and took a Covid-19 test – as required by NBA protocol, sources tell ESPN.

– Adrian Wojnarowski October 12, 2021

Simmons missed training camp and the preseason in the wake of his offseason trade demand that had left the Sixers without their three-time All-Star – and Simmons out millions in lost salary and fines.

Rivers defused the situation, opening his pregame press conference by saying, “Hello, everyone, I have a statement to make.” As questions about Simmons kept coming before the Sixers played the Brooklyn Nets, Rivers said, “You guys know we have a game today, right?”

The Sixers played without injured point guards Ty Maxey and Shake Milton.

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