NBA Season 2021-22

[Goldstar88]

Sounds like Simmons will not be playing in Thursday’s game. What a shame...


If you were expecting to see Ben Simmons soon after the end of the All-Star Break, you should lower your expectations. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne who has excellent sources in Simmons camp, says the newest Net isn’t likely to play for “weeks.” Here’s what she said on ESPN’s NBA Today Monday… “Ben Simmons, from what I’m told, is going to really ramp it up this week and see where he’s at at the end of the week, but he’s getting close. I don’t think it’s going to–it’s going to be more like weeks rather than months.” via Net Income @ NetsDaily

Now this lends more credence he is actually fighting a mental illness. I retract my former criticism, as I said I would, if he showed the actions of someone actually struggling with mental illness.

As I said then, there was no way he could snap his fingers and be ready to play if he had mental health issues. Changes of scenery don't suddenly change that anxiety and it appears to be playing out here.

I am sorry for misjudging you Ben. Please, get the help you need and return when you are truly healthy enough to return.

I read it as his physical conditioning is not there yet. Until Ben had a falling out with a Doc and Embiid, I don’t recall there ever being talk of him needing time away due to mental illness or missing any games due to this in the 4 years he played in Philly.  If you hate your co-workers and dread going to work everyday to the point that it gives you anxiety or depression, does that mean you are now mentally ill or does it mean that the environment is having an effect on your mental well being?

I don’t buy him being mentally ill. He just wanted out of Philly, IMO.

[moiso]

Sounds like Simmons will not be playing in Thursday’s game. What a shame...


If you were expecting to see Ben Simmons soon after the end of the All-Star Break, you should lower your expectations. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne who has excellent sources in Simmons camp, says the newest Net isn’t likely to play for “weeks.” Here’s what she said on ESPN’s NBA Today Monday… “Ben Simmons, from what I’m told, is going to really ramp it up this week and see where he’s at at the end of the week, but he’s getting close. I don’t think it’s going to–it’s going to be more like weeks rather than months.” via Net Income @ NetsDaily

Now this lends more credence he is actually fighting a mental illness. I retract my former criticism, as I said I would, if he showed the actions of someone actually struggling with mental illness.

As I said then, there was no way he could snap his fingers and be ready to play if he had mental health issues. Changes of scenery don't suddenly change that anxiety and it appears to be playing out here.

I am sorry for misjudging you Ben. Please, get the help you need and return when you are truly healthy enough to return.

I read it as his physical conditioning is not there yet. Until Ben had a falling out with a Doc and Embiid, there was no  talk of him needing time away due to mental illness. I don’t recall him missing any games due to this in the 4 years he played in Philly.  If you hate your co-workers and dread going to work everyday to the point that it gives you anxiety or depression, does that mean you are now mentally ill. Or does it mean that the environment is having an effect on your mental well being?

I don’t buy him being mentally ill. He just wanted out of Philly, IMO.

He must have been really slacking on his individual workouts if he's still weeks away.  He knew there was a chance he'd get traded and he still didn't get in decent condition, it sounds like.

[gouki88]

Another name has jumped into the ring in an attempt to oust incumbent Rep. Ilhan Omar. Royce White, a former Gophers basketball player and current MMA athlete, launched his bid for a U.S. Congress seat Tuesday. –

“I’m a fifth-generation Minnesotan, and a product of the Twin Cities. But, first and foremost, I’m an American,” White says in a video he posted to Twitter Tuesday morning. “I’m running for Congress because our leaders have sold us out.” White goes on in the video to call Omar a “globalist,” and a “puppet for the establishment.” The video also includes swipes at “Big Pharma, Big Tech and the corporate elites.” – via CBS Minnesota @ CBS Minnesota

Goes from failed NBA player due to a plethora of issues to populist political candidate. Weird.

He was the apple in the eye of many Celticsbloggers.

LeBron 2.0

[nickagneta]

Sounds like Simmons will not be playing in Thursday’s game. What a shame...


If you were expecting to see Ben Simmons soon after the end of the All-Star Break, you should lower your expectations. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne who has excellent sources in Simmons camp, says the newest Net isn’t likely to play for “weeks.” Here’s what she said on ESPN’s NBA Today Monday… “Ben Simmons, from what I’m told, is going to really ramp it up this week and see where he’s at at the end of the week, but he’s getting close. I don’t think it’s going to–it’s going to be more like weeks rather than months.” via Net Income @ NetsDaily

Now this lends more credence he is actually fighting a mental illness. I retract my former criticism, as I said I would, if he showed the actions of someone actually struggling with mental illness.

As I said then, there was no way he could snap his fingers and be ready to play if he had mental health issues. Changes of scenery don't suddenly change that anxiety and it appears to be playing out here.

I am sorry for misjudging you Ben. Please, get the help you need and return when you are truly healthy enough to return.

I read it as his physical conditioning is not there yet. Until Ben had a falling out with a Doc and Embiid, there was no  talk of him needing time away due to mental illness. I don’t recall him missing any games due to this in the 4 years he played in Philly.  If you hate your co-workers and dread going to work everyday to the point that it gives you anxiety or depression, does that mean you are now mentally ill. Or does it mean that the environment is having an effect on your mental well being?

I don’t buy him being mentally ill. He just wanted out of Philly, IMO.

He must have been really slacking on his individual workouts if he's still weeks away.  He knew there was a chance he'd get traded and he still didn't get in decent condition, it sounds like.

It's been 12 days from the time of the trade. We have seen guys get real out of shape doing nothing over summers and from the start of ramp up be playing in pre-season games in 12 days.

Yet,  he is weeks away.

That's not normal. He never had an injury. He looked sleek and in decent condition.

In his presser after the trade he mentioned his mental health saying you didn't want to know where he had been. Needing this much time leads me to believe he has an illness. Depression/anxiety....sure sounds like it. And it's what he and his representation were hinting at to outright saying all along.

I hope he gets better soon.

[liam]

Another name has jumped into the ring in an attempt to oust incumbent Rep. Ilhan Omar. Royce White, a former Gophers basketball player and current MMA athlete, launched his bid for a U.S. Congress seat Tuesday. –

“I’m a fifth-generation Minnesotan, and a product of the Twin Cities. But, first and foremost, I’m an American,” White says in a video he posted to Twitter Tuesday morning. “I’m running for Congress because our leaders have sold us out.” White goes on in the video to call Omar a “globalist,” and a “puppet for the establishment.” The video also includes swipes at “Big Pharma, Big Tech and the corporate elites.” – via CBS Minnesota @ CBS Minnesota

Goes from failed NBA player due to a plethora of issues to populist political candidate. Weird.

He was the apple in the eye of many Celticsbloggers.

LeBron 2.0

If I remember correctly he looked LeBron like in college. Playing bully ball. Lots of guys who look great in college can't play the pro game. Regardless of their metal status.

[Goldstar88]

Another name has jumped into the ring in an attempt to oust incumbent Rep. Ilhan Omar. Royce White, a former Gophers basketball player and current MMA athlete, launched his bid for a U.S. Congress seat Tuesday. –

“I’m a fifth-generation Minnesotan, and a product of the Twin Cities. But, first and foremost, I’m an American,” White says in a video he posted to Twitter Tuesday morning. “I’m running for Congress because our leaders have sold us out.” White goes on in the video to call Omar a “globalist,” and a “puppet for the establishment.” The video also includes swipes at “Big Pharma, Big Tech and the corporate elites.” – via CBS Minnesota @ CBS Minnesota

Goes from failed NBA player due to a plethora of issues to populist political candidate. Weird.

He was the apple in the eye of many Celticsbloggers.

LeBron 2.0

And now that title has been passed on to Cade Cunningham. Lol

[liam]

Another name has jumped into the ring in an attempt to oust incumbent Rep. Ilhan Omar. Royce White, a former Gophers basketball player and current MMA athlete, launched his bid for a U.S. Congress seat Tuesday. –

“I’m a fifth-generation Minnesotan, and a product of the Twin Cities. But, first and foremost, I’m an American,” White says in a video he posted to Twitter Tuesday morning. “I’m running for Congress because our leaders have sold us out.” White goes on in the video to call Omar a “globalist,” and a “puppet for the establishment.” The video also includes swipes at “Big Pharma, Big Tech and the corporate elites.” – via CBS Minnesota @ CBS Minnesota

Goes from failed NBA player due to a plethora of issues to populist political candidate. Weird.

He was the apple in the eye of many Celticsbloggers.

LeBron 2.0

And now that title has been passed on to Cade Cunningham. Lol

Cade is 3.0...

[Surferdad]

Sounds like Simmons will not be playing in Thursday’s game. What a shame...


If you were expecting to see Ben Simmons soon after the end of the All-Star Break, you should lower your expectations. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne who has excellent sources in Simmons camp, says the newest Net isn’t likely to play for “weeks.” Here’s what she said on ESPN’s NBA Today Monday… “Ben Simmons, from what I’m told, is going to really ramp it up this week and see where he’s at at the end of the week, but he’s getting close. I don’t think it’s going to–it’s going to be more like weeks rather than months.” via Net Income @ NetsDaily

Now this lends more credence he is actually fighting a mental illness. I retract my former criticism, as I said I would, if he showed the actions of someone actually struggling with mental illness.

As I said then, there was no way he could snap his fingers and be ready to play if he had mental health issues. Changes of scenery don't suddenly change that anxiety and it appears to be playing out here.

I am sorry for misjudging you Ben. Please, get the help you need and return when you are truly healthy enough to return.

Why, Nick?  I don’t see anything in here that hints at mental illness, but I’m no expert.

[colincb]

Another name has jumped into the ring in an attempt to oust incumbent Rep. Ilhan Omar. Royce White, a former Gophers basketball player and current MMA athlete, launched his bid for a U.S. Congress seat Tuesday. –

“I’m a fifth-generation Minnesotan, and a product of the Twin Cities. But, first and foremost, I’m an American,” White says in a video he posted to Twitter Tuesday morning. “I’m running for Congress because our leaders have sold us out.” White goes on in the video to call Omar a “globalist,” and a “puppet for the establishment.” The video also includes swipes at “Big Pharma, Big Tech and the corporate elites.” – via CBS Minnesota @ CBS Minnesota

Why is this not in CE?

[nickagneta]

Sounds like Simmons will not be playing in Thursday’s game. What a shame...


If you were expecting to see Ben Simmons soon after the end of the All-Star Break, you should lower your expectations. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne who has excellent sources in Simmons camp, says the newest Net isn’t likely to play for “weeks.” Here’s what she said on ESPN’s NBA Today Monday… “Ben Simmons, from what I’m told, is going to really ramp it up this week and see where he’s at at the end of the week, but he’s getting close. I don’t think it’s going to–it’s going to be more like weeks rather than months.” via Net Income @ NetsDaily

Now this lends more credence he is actually fighting a mental illness. I retract my former criticism, as I said I would, if he showed the actions of someone actually struggling with mental illness.

As I said then, there was no way he could snap his fingers and be ready to play if he had mental health issues. Changes of scenery don't suddenly change that anxiety and it appears to be playing out here.

I am sorry for misjudging you Ben. Please, get the help you need and return when you are truly healthy enough to return.

Why, Nick?  I don’t see anything in here that hints at mental illness, but I’m no expert.

Because his claim was he had mental health issues/mental well being issues. After watching his presser after the trade he touched on it briefly saying in was in a bad place, a place he didn't want to talk about. I've been in those places. They're scary places you don't want to talk about.

He looked in shape. He wasn't overweight. Not close. It's 12 days post trade and he is still weeks away. If he was just out of shape, he would be almost ready to go. We have seen players come into training camp out of shape and two weeks later they are in pre-season games going lots of minutes.

That isn't happening.

Anxiety/depression doesn't have timetables for returns. It's not like a grade 1 sprained ankle or an MCL tear or a broken bone that has set times to expect recovery.

Getting over mental issues takes time and there is no set return times. No change of scenery was going to get Simmons back on the court immediately if he had mental issues. Those things travel with you.

So Simmons not being ready two weeks later with a "few weeks" tentative time table, to me, signals that his mental health problems were real and still ongoing.

I wish him the best.

[Surferdad]

Sounds like Simmons will not be playing in Thursday’s game. What a shame...


If you were expecting to see Ben Simmons soon after the end of the All-Star Break, you should lower your expectations. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne who has excellent sources in Simmons camp, says the newest Net isn’t likely to play for “weeks.” Here’s what she said on ESPN’s NBA Today Monday… “Ben Simmons, from what I’m told, is going to really ramp it up this week and see where he’s at at the end of the week, but he’s getting close. I don’t think it’s going to–it’s going to be more like weeks rather than months.” via Net Income @ NetsDaily

Now this lends more credence he is actually fighting a mental illness. I retract my former criticism, as I said I would, if he showed the actions of someone actually struggling with mental illness.

As I said then, there was no way he could snap his fingers and be ready to play if he had mental health issues. Changes of scenery don't suddenly change that anxiety and it appears to be playing out here.

I am sorry for misjudging you Ben. Please, get the help you need and return when you are truly healthy enough to return.

Why, Nick?  I don’t see anything in here that hints at mental illness, but I’m no expert.

Because his claim was he had mental health issues/mental well being issues. After watching his presser after the trade he touched on it briefly saying in was in a bad place, a place he didn't want to talk about. I've been in those places. They're scary places you don't want to talk about.

He looked in shape. He wasn't overweight. Not close. It's 12 days post trade and he is still weeks away. If he was just out of shape, he would be almost ready to go. We have seen players come into training camp out of shape and two weeks later they are in pre-season games going lots of minutes.

That isn't happening.

Anxiety/depression doesn't have timetables for returns. It's not like a grade 1 sprained ankle or an MCL tear or a broken bone that has set times to expect recovery.

Getting over mental issues takes time and there is no set return times. No change of scenery was going to get Simmons back on the court immediately if he had mental issues. Those things travel with you.

So Simmons not being ready two weeks later with a "few weeks" tentative time table, to me, signals that his mental health problems were real and still ongoing.

I wish him the best.

OK nick, i get it and I'm glad you asked since having "been there" you know what you are talking about.  He certainly should be ready physically, except for being in aerobic "game shape".  So that only leaves a mental health issue, which if true, is a really bad sign for the Nets.  Why would he be ready in weeks?  Why not longer?  As you said, there's no timetable for return from such issues.

[celticsclay]

Sounds like Simmons will not be playing in Thursday’s game. What a shame...


If you were expecting to see Ben Simmons soon after the end of the All-Star Break, you should lower your expectations. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne who has excellent sources in Simmons camp, says the newest Net isn’t likely to play for “weeks.” Here’s what she said on ESPN’s NBA Today Monday… “Ben Simmons, from what I’m told, is going to really ramp it up this week and see where he’s at at the end of the week, but he’s getting close. I don’t think it’s going to–it’s going to be more like weeks rather than months.” via Net Income @ NetsDaily

Now this lends more credence he is actually fighting a mental illness. I retract my former criticism, as I said I would, if he showed the actions of someone actually struggling with mental illness.

As I said then, there was no way he could snap his fingers and be ready to play if he had mental health issues. Changes of scenery don't suddenly change that anxiety and it appears to be playing out here.

I am sorry for misjudging you Ben. Please, get the help you need and return when you are truly healthy enough to return.

I read it as his physical conditioning is not there yet. Until Ben had a falling out with a Doc and Embiid, there was no  talk of him needing time away due to mental illness. I don’t recall him missing any games due to this in the 4 years he played in Philly.  If you hate your co-workers and dread going to work everyday to the point that it gives you anxiety or depression, does that mean you are now mentally ill. Or does it mean that the environment is having an effect on your mental well being?

I don’t buy him being mentally ill. He just wanted out of Philly, IMO.

He must have been really slacking on his individual workouts if he's still weeks away.  He knew there was a chance he'd get traded and he still didn't get in decent condition, it sounds like.

It's been 12 days from the time of the trade. We have seen guys get real out of shape doing nothing over summers and from the start of ramp up be playing in pre-season games in 12 days.

Yet,  he is weeks away.

That's not normal. He never had an injury. He looked sleek and in decent condition.

In his presser after the trade he mentioned his mental health saying you didn't want to know where he had been. Needing this much time leads me to believe he has an illness. Depression/anxiety....sure sounds like it. And it's what he and his representation were hinting at to outright saying all along.

I hope he gets better soon.

Nick I don’t think this proves anything one way or the other. I think there is a chance both him and harden have smart pr teams that have said hey sit out some games or this will make you look really bad. There were definitely reports from insiders about klutch telling ben to knock off the full court public games he was doing with Dion waiters and some other for pr purposes. We will probably never have an actual answer to this, or at least one for many years till someone writes a book. Remember there is still a lot of money at stake here also. If simmons played the day after being traded it would have probably destroyed any chance of him getting any of the 20 million he has lost back. It seems his team thinks they may still have a shot at at least some of it. Also I will add, as you know I have had my own experiences with mental health issues and within my family. So I don’t disagree with your idea. There is a lot of reasons I formed the opinion I did on ben following the story very closely.

[nickagneta]

Sounds like Simmons will not be playing in Thursday’s game. What a shame...


If you were expecting to see Ben Simmons soon after the end of the All-Star Break, you should lower your expectations. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne who has excellent sources in Simmons camp, says the newest Net isn’t likely to play for “weeks.” Here’s what she said on ESPN’s NBA Today Monday… “Ben Simmons, from what I’m told, is going to really ramp it up this week and see where he’s at at the end of the week, but he’s getting close. I don’t think it’s going to–it’s going to be more like weeks rather than months.” via Net Income @ NetsDaily

Now this lends more credence he is actually fighting a mental illness. I retract my former criticism, as I said I would, if he showed the actions of someone actually struggling with mental illness.

As I said then, there was no way he could snap his fingers and be ready to play if he had mental health issues. Changes of scenery don't suddenly change that anxiety and it appears to be playing out here.

I am sorry for misjudging you Ben. Please, get the help you need and return when you are truly healthy enough to return.

I read it as his physical conditioning is not there yet. Until Ben had a falling out with a Doc and Embiid, there was no  talk of him needing time away due to mental illness. I don’t recall him missing any games due to this in the 4 years he played in Philly.  If you hate your co-workers and dread going to work everyday to the point that it gives you anxiety or depression, does that mean you are now mentally ill. Or does it mean that the environment is having an effect on your mental well being?

I don’t buy him being mentally ill. He just wanted out of Philly, IMO.

He must have been really slacking on his individual workouts if he's still weeks away.  He knew there was a chance he'd get traded and he still didn't get in decent condition, it sounds like.

It's been 12 days from the time of the trade. We have seen guys get real out of shape doing nothing over summers and from the start of ramp up be playing in pre-season games in 12 days.

Yet,  he is weeks away.

That's not normal. He never had an injury. He looked sleek and in decent condition.

In his presser after the trade he mentioned his mental health saying you didn't want to know where he had been. Needing this much time leads me to believe he has an illness. Depression/anxiety....sure sounds like it. And it's what he and his representation were hinting at to outright saying all along.

I hope he gets better soon.

Nick I don’t think this proves anything one way or the other. I think there is a chance both him and harden have smart pr teams that have said hey sit out some games or this will make you look really bad. There were definitely reports from insiders about klutch telling ben to knock off the full court public games he was doing with Dion waiters and some other for pr purposes. We will probably never have an actual answer to this, or at least one for many years till someone writes a book. Remember there is still a lot of money at stake here also. If simmons played the day after being traded it would have probably destroyed any chance of him getting any of the 20 million he has lost back. It seems his team thinks they may still have a shot at at least some of it. Also I will add, as you know I have had my own experiences with mental health issues and within my family. So I don’t disagree with your idea. There is a lot of reasons I formed the opinion I did on ben following the story very closely.

Maybe ...maybe not. Something about that press conference tells me this isn't some huge fraud that's being continued just to get his back pay back. There is something there and it happens to be going along just the way I said it would if he had actual issues. If he was acting at that presser, give the kid an Academy Award.

[celticsclay]

Sounds like Simmons will not be playing in Thursday’s game. What a shame...


If you were expecting to see Ben Simmons soon after the end of the All-Star Break, you should lower your expectations. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne who has excellent sources in Simmons camp, says the newest Net isn’t likely to play for “weeks.” Here’s what she said on ESPN’s NBA Today Monday… “Ben Simmons, from what I’m told, is going to really ramp it up this week and see where he’s at at the end of the week, but he’s getting close. I don’t think it’s going to–it’s going to be more like weeks rather than months.” via Net Income @ NetsDaily

Now this lends more credence he is actually fighting a mental illness. I retract my former criticism, as I said I would, if he showed the actions of someone actually struggling with mental illness.

As I said then, there was no way he could snap his fingers and be ready to play if he had mental health issues. Changes of scenery don't suddenly change that anxiety and it appears to be playing out here.

I am sorry for misjudging you Ben. Please, get the help you need and return when you are truly healthy enough to return.

I read it as his physical conditioning is not there yet. Until Ben had a falling out with a Doc and Embiid, there was no  talk of him needing time away due to mental illness. I don’t recall him missing any games due to this in the 4 years he played in Philly.  If you hate your co-workers and dread going to work everyday to the point that it gives you anxiety or depression, does that mean you are now mentally ill. Or does it mean that the environment is having an effect on your mental well being?

I don’t buy him being mentally ill. He just wanted out of Philly, IMO.

He must have been really slacking on his individual workouts if he's still weeks away.  He knew there was a chance he'd get traded and he still didn't get in decent condition, it sounds like.

It's been 12 days from the time of the trade. We have seen guys get real out of shape doing nothing over summers and from the start of ramp up be playing in pre-season games in 12 days.

Yet,  he is weeks away.

That's not normal. He never had an injury. He looked sleek and in decent condition.

In his presser after the trade he mentioned his mental health saying you didn't want to know where he had been. Needing this much time leads me to believe he has an illness. Depression/anxiety....sure sounds like it. And it's what he and his representation were hinting at to outright saying all along.

I hope he gets better soon.

Nick I don’t think this proves anything one way or the other. I think there is a chance both him and harden have smart pr teams that have said hey sit out some games or this will make you look really bad. There were definitely reports from insiders about klutch telling ben to knock off the full court public games he was doing with Dion waiters and some other for pr purposes. We will probably never have an actual answer to this, or at least one for many years till someone writes a book. Remember there is still a lot of money at stake here also. If simmons played the day after being traded it would have probably destroyed any chance of him getting any of the 20 million he has lost back. It seems his team thinks they may still have a shot at at least some of it. Also I will add, as you know I have had my own experiences with mental health issues and within my family. So I don’t disagree with your idea. There is a lot of reasons I formed the opinion I did on ben following the story very closely.

Maybe ...maybe not. Something about that press conference tells me this isn't some huge fraud that's being continued just to get his back pay back. There is something there and it happens to be going along just the way I said it would if he had actual issues. If he was acting at that presser, give the kid an Academy Award.

Well we can't go too far in this because we are both reading the tea leaves and at the end of the guessing. My two things I am still extremely skeptical about is that if you really dig into the weeds the mental health was a very strict line to trying to get compensated, and then it briefly worked. However, he then went back to getting fined which tells me a lot in a league that has literally one of the most powerful unions in the world. It is also interesting that Embid, who I don't think is a malicious person trolled him on the way out and had a lot of negative things to say about Ben despite constantly talking to him during the offseason, before the season, and as recently as a few weeks before trade deadline.

https://www.libertyballers.com/2022/2/22/22946300/joel-embiid-ben-simmons-trade-deadline-james-harden

Again, though we will both have our opinions without having any facts (unless it actually goes to arbitration this offseason, which is possible and why it would be a smart move for Ben to sit out some time now).

[Goldstar88]

Sounds like Simmons will not be playing in Thursday’s game. What a shame...


If you were expecting to see Ben Simmons soon after the end of the All-Star Break, you should lower your expectations. ESPN’s Ramona Shelburne who has excellent sources in Simmons camp, says the newest Net isn’t likely to play for “weeks.” Here’s what she said on ESPN’s NBA Today Monday… “Ben Simmons, from what I’m told, is going to really ramp it up this week and see where he’s at at the end of the week, but he’s getting close. I don’t think it’s going to–it’s going to be more like weeks rather than months.” via Net Income @ NetsDaily

Now this lends more credence he is actually fighting a mental illness. I retract my former criticism, as I said I would, if he showed the actions of someone actually struggling with mental illness.

As I said then, there was no way he could snap his fingers and be ready to play if he had mental health issues. Changes of scenery don't suddenly change that anxiety and it appears to be playing out here.

I am sorry for misjudging you Ben. Please, get the help you need and return when you are truly healthy enough to return.

I read it as his physical conditioning is not there yet. Until Ben had a falling out with a Doc and Embiid, there was no  talk of him needing time away due to mental illness. I don’t recall him missing any games due to this in the 4 years he played in Philly.  If you hate your co-workers and dread going to work everyday to the point that it gives you anxiety or depression, does that mean you are now mentally ill. Or does it mean that the environment is having an effect on your mental well being?

I don’t buy him being mentally ill. He just wanted out of Philly, IMO.

He must have been really slacking on his individual workouts if he's still weeks away.  He knew there was a chance he'd get traded and he still didn't get in decent condition, it sounds like.

It's been 12 days from the time of the trade. We have seen guys get real out of shape doing nothing over summers and from the start of ramp up be playing in pre-season games in 12 days.

Yet,  he is weeks away.

That's not normal. He never had an injury. He looked sleek and in decent condition.

In his presser after the trade he mentioned his mental health saying you didn't want to know where he had been. Needing this much time leads me to believe he has an illness. Depression/anxiety....sure sounds like it. And it's what he and his representation were hinting at to outright saying all along.

I hope he gets better soon.

Nick I don’t think this proves anything one way or the other. I think there is a chance both him and harden have smart pr teams that have said hey sit out some games or this will make you look really bad. There were definitely reports from insiders about klutch telling ben to knock off the full court public games he was doing with Dion waiters and some other for pr purposes. We will probably never have an actual answer to this, or at least one for many years till someone writes a book. Remember there is still a lot of money at stake here also. If simmons played the day after being traded it would have probably destroyed any chance of him getting any of the 20 million he has lost back. It seems his team thinks they may still have a shot at at least some of it. Also I will add, as you know I have had my own experiences with mental health issues and within my family. So I don’t disagree with your idea. There is a lot of reasons I formed the opinion I did on ben following the story very closely.

Maybe ...maybe not. Something about that press conference tells me this isn't some huge fraud that's being continued just to get his back pay back. There is something there and it happens to be going along just the way I said it would if he had actual issues. If he was acting at that presser, give the kid an Academy Award.

I watched the full press conference and I didn’t think Ben was being disingenuous. He was unhappy in Philadelphia and did not want to be there. It was clear that he and Embiid could not co-exist and trying to work with someone everyday that you dislike and don’t want to interact with does take a toll on mental well being.

I was working In a toxic environment about 4 years ago and I dreaded going in to work everyday. It was giving me anxiety, which was affecting my sleep, which was impacting my physical and mental health. I was seriously considering quitting without having another job lined up.  It was an awful experience, but I don’t think I was suffering from mental illness. As soon as I left that situation and was in a normal working environment, the anxiety and stress that I was feeling went away. Feel like that may be more in line with what Ben was going through.

Kevin Love is a player that struggled with mental illness. It wasn’t something triggered by a work environment.

In the essay, Love detailed one of the "darkest periods" of his life that came when he was a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. The former lottery pick had played just 18 games during the 2012-13 season and broke his hand twice. Not being able to play basketball took it's toll on Love.

"My identity was gone. My emotional outlet was gone. All I was left with was me and my mind. I was living alone at the time, and my social anxiety was so bad that I never even left my apartment. Actually, I would rarely even leave my bedroom. I would have the shades down most of the day, no lights on, no TV, nothing. It felt like I was on a deserted island by myself, and it was always midnight."

It's been no secret that Love has dealt with mental health issues throughout his professional career. While playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers in November 2017, he suffered a panic attack during a game. Through it all, Love continues to encourage those that are dealing with depression to talk to someone.

"If you're struggling right now, I can't tell you that this is going to be easy. But I can tell you that it does get better," Love wrote.