First the free throws without a boot (see story). Now an appearance on the bench.
The injured Ben Simmons joined the Sixers on the sidelines to watch the game for the first time this season.
“Physically to be able to walk out and sit on the bench, instead of being wheeled out or instead of dragging a boot, today was the first game that we had the opportunity to do that,” Brett Brown said.
Simmons suffered a Jones fracture in his right foot during training camp. He has been staying a part of the Sixers out of the public eye during his rehab.
“If you saw him behind closed doors as games are going on … watching our game on a TV, in a weight room continuing to work out, engaging with teammates at halftime, he’s been a part of us,” Brown said. “It just hasn’t been visual to everybody.”
Brown plans for him to be present on the bench moving forward. The head coach used that opportunity to discuss the game with Simmons and get his take on action playing out in front of him in Wednesday's 123-114 loss to the Raptors (see game recap).
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“I think it’s pretty cool having him out there with his teammates,” Brown said. “That will continue on.”
No timetable has been announced for Simmons’ return.
