Tobias Harris Weighs In On The Ben Simmons Mental Health Hiatus

Ben Simmons has been asking for a trade all offseason. And when it wasn’t granted, he showed up to practice with a disinterested demeanor that has resulted in him getting kicked out of the team’s facility and benched.

Despite all that, the Sixers were expecting Simmons to play this week (he’s is under contract). But the point guard has cited some back pain and mental health issues as reasons why he cannot currently suit up.

According to reports, Philly wasn’t buying it.

Sixers Think Ben Simmons Faking Mental Illness So He Won’t Have To Playhttps://t.co/RkekHRWyaD

— SideAction (@SideActionHQ) October 21, 2021

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While most of the team seems to be distancing themselves from Ben Simmons, veteran Tobias Harris went out on a limb to stand up for him.

“And we’ll respect his privacy and space during this time. When he’s ready, we will embrace our brother with love and handle our business on the court. That’s it, that’s all,” Harris said on Twitter.

And we’ll respect his privacy and space during this time. When he’s ready, we will embrace our brother with love and handle our business on the court. That's it, that's all. https://t.co/eardjmQbz8

— Tobias Harris (@tobias31) October 22, 2021

Tobias Harris proved what a good leader he is with this Ben Simmons situation.

When asked about the whole saga earlier in the week, Harris was the one guy who wouldn’t take the bait. Instead, he talked about how he’s handling the locker room with a season of high expectations around the corner.

“Just by using my voice,” Harris stated. “Making things as light as they need to be. I like to really just see what the vibe is and see any way I can put my hand on it and try to keep guys in the right focus and intent and just to make things light off the floor. Jokes, stuff like that, little things, but it goes a long way.”

It seems like everyone in Philadelphia is completely fixated on Ben Simmons and where that situation is going to go. But Tobias Harris knows it’s incumbent on him and the team to look past what the point guard may or may not be going through right now.

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