The NBA just fined the Philadelphia 76ers $25,000 for their handling of Ben Simmons in light of recent COVID-19 issues, the league announced Monday.
Simmons was mysteriously ruled out with an injury ahead of Saturday's game against the Denver Nuggets. However, the team's failure to list the former No. 1 pick with an injury designation prior to inactive status is lending skepticism to the situation.
The Sixers had some trouble last week when it was revealed Seth Curry had tested positive for the coronavirus.
Curry found out about the positive during Philly's game against the Brooklyn Nets on Thursday, with the Sixers then being forced to quarantine in Brooklyn.
There was some confusion as to which players would be forced to enter the league's contact tracing procedures. Initially, Simmons looked to be available for Saturday's game against Denver, but was pulled from the rotation just hours prior to game time.
Of course, the NBA is far from blameless in possibly manifesting a situation in which the Sixers might have violated protocols. The league essentially forced the Sixers to play the Nuggets, employing a rather stringent adherence to the schedule. This might have been more understandable had the Sixers not been forced to quarantine.
In any case, the NBA faces consequential decisions in the coming days. The league already postponed Monday night's game between the Dallas Mavericks and New Orleans, as well as Tuesday's matchup between the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls. There will be calls with the NBPA and all 30 general managers Monday, and a special call with the Board of Governors is scheduled for Tuesday.
Follow Us
Subscribe