Ben Simmons losses $19 million in fines due to his absence / News - Basketnews.com

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Ben Simmons has lost over $19 million in fines since the season began and could lose another $12 million by the end of the campaign, according to Ramona Shelburne of ESPN.

Ben Simmons

Team:Philadelphia 76ersPosition:SF, PFAge:25Height:208 cmWeight:104 kgBirth place:AustraliaProfileNewsStatistics

Each missed game costs him $360,000. He hasn't cleared a paycheck since the $8.25 million (25% of his $33 million salary) that was due to him on October 1

Every two weeks the Philadelphia 76ers sends a notice with an explanation of all the fines he has accumulated for failing to render services, instead of a $1.375 million paycheck, via the report.

However, Ben Simmons' camp claims that this stagnant situation it's not about the money. The Australian guardwants a fresh start, away from a franchise he doesn't feel comfortable playing for anymore.

"We don't give a f*ck about the money," one source close to Simmons says ESPN. "That's not what this is. It's hard for people to understand. But if you believe in what you're doing and that this is not the right situation for you, and you're trying to get to a better place, the money doesn't matter. Obviously, it's a financial hit. But you adjust."

Another source close to Simmons stresses: "It's easy to tell when someone is hurt when they have a cast on their arm. But this is mental health. You can't always see it. But ask yourself, how many people would lose a dollar over this? That should tell you everything."

The 76ers made Simmons the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft. He sat out his first campaign with a foot injury, but in 275 games over four seasons, he is averaging 15.9 points, 7.7 assists, and 8.1 rebounds.

His 2020-21 averages - 14.3 points, 6.9 assists, and 7.2 rebounds - were career lows.

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