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Tim BontempsESPN
In his first game after not being eventually included in a trade for James Harden, Ben Simmons had a triple-double – 10 points, 10 rebounds and 12 assists. help – in 34 minutes Thursday to lead the 76ers to a 125- 108 victory over the Miami heat in Philadelphia.
After all, he called trade talks just a part of his life as an NBA player.
“I mean, this is business,” Simmons said, when asked if he was happy that the Harden talks are behind him after the 2018 NBA MVP was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a deal that was made official Thursday. “Things like that happen. The only thing I can control is, you know, how I get closer to my workplaces, the games and my everyday thing. So, you know, I’m just trying to be professional and do the right thing and help my team win. “
Philadelphia – whose basketball operations president Daryl Morey had Harden as general manager of the Houston Rockets in the fall of 2012 – and Brooklyn were the main contenders to land the superstitious guard for several weeks .
Eventually, however, Houston opted for a package from Brooklyn that contained a boatload of select versions over one from Philadelphia with a Simmons face.
When asked Thursday if he felt the need to talk about what happened to Morey or anyone else in government, Simmons said he can only control what he can control.
“I come in here and work every day,” Simmons said. “So my job is to get better and win – everything else I can’t control. As I said before, all I can do is control as I come in with my mind, with habits and on the floor, and I had a good time tonight.I am blessed.I get my favorite game every day at the highest level in the world …. Things are getting much worse in the world, so, you know, I’m in a blessed position.If you told me I wouldn’t play the game again, that would be a different story. “
When asked if he was happy to still be in Philadelphia, Simmons said, “Absolutely.”
Earlier, Sixers coach Doc Rivers had praised Simmons’ defensive effort on a night that had three directors in addition to his triple-double.
“I was wondering tonight who needs to have it every night,” Rivers said. “I like the way he played. I liked the way he played under control. He didn’t act, he took gaps when they were there. … He was present on the floor for us, and not just on the offensive head but on the defensive head, too. That will take us to a different level when he plays like that. “