Ben Simmons was stationed near a glass of wine — and didn’t seem to complain — as the Celtics blew out his former team in Sunday’s Game 7.
The Nets star, injured or inefficient for most of the 2022-23 season, posted a photo on his Instagram story with what appeared to be a glass of red wine, a bottle of smartwater and a television in the background playing the fourth quarter of Boston’s 112-88 victory over the 76ers in the Eastern Conference semifinals.
At the time of Simmons’ photo, with 3:24 left in the fourth quarter, the Celtics led by 30 points.
Simmons was selected No. 1 overall by the 76ers in 2016, and he spent the next six years with the organization — only playing in four seasons, with a foot injury his rookie season and back/mental health reasons in 2021-22.
And after the 2020-21 campaign, Simmons and the organization appeared to head toward a breakup, even before the guard didn’t play the following year.
He was ultimately traded to the Nets — along with a massive contract that still has two years and around $78 million left — in a deal that sent James Harden to Philadelphia, starting the breakup of Brooklyn’s Big 3 that officially ended at the 2023 trade deadline when Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving were dealt to the Suns and Mavericks, respectively.
Simmons and the Nets were swept in the first round this year by the 76ers, but the 26-year-old hadn’t played since the All-Star break due to nerve impingement, knee and back problems that halted his season.
Head coach Jacque Vaughn said on March 28 that Simmons wouldn’t be joining the Nets throughout the rest of their regular season or playoffs, but the head coach added that — at the time — it appeared Simmons wouldn’t need another surgery, using a rehab program throughout the offseason.
Simmons could end up playing for the Australian National Team in the FIBA World Cup, according to head coach Brian Goorjian and an interview Simmons did with Australia’s Daily Telegraph.
After their victory over the 76ers, the Celtics advanced to the Eastern Conference finals, where they’ll face the Heat for the second consecutive year and third time in the last four postseasons.