An exception for Ben Simmons. This is how we could summarize the small annex letter that accompanies the new collective agreement, signed by the NBA and the players’ union last month.
Indeed, in this undisclosed letter, ESPN informs us that Ben Simmons was credited with his year for the 2021/2022 season. A season that he nevertheless spent in the infirmary or on the bench, between Philadelphia and Brooklyn.
As a reminder, the player had requested his transfer and had entered into a showdown with the Sixers, moving away from the group. The latter had even blocked part of his salary to make him bend. Then, his agent Rich Paul spoke of the pressure on the player’s mental health, a subject that will become ubiquitous in the final months of the season, even after his arrival in Brooklyn.
An important year for his future contracts
His white season therefore counts in his career, and here is Ben Simmons with now seven seasons in the NBA. Basically, what’s the difference? It can be important because years of service have an influence on the amounts of extensions and contracts that players can sign.
A bit like the new rule for “two-way contracts”, the “Harry Giles III rule”, which allows a player injured for a whole season not to have this season counted, so as not to then prevent them from getting a “two-way contract”. Except that for Ben Simmons, the season is therefore counted and above all, ESPN insists: it is an exception for the former All-Star.
There will be no Simmons case law for James Harden, for example, who asked for his transfer from Philadelphia, if he were to not show up for the “training camp”, because he is in the last year of his contract.
The new collective agreement even specifies that if a player voluntarily leaves the group for more than 30 days, then the league could consider that he has broken his contract, preventing him from testing the market and signing with anyone. what a team (even outside the NBA), as long as its former formation does not agree!
| Ben Simmons | Percentage | Bounces | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Crew | GM | Minimum | Shots | 3 points | LF | Off | Def | Early | pd | party | Int | bp | CT | Points |
| 2017-18 | PHL | 81 | 34 | 54.5 | 0.0 | 56.0 | 1.8 | 6.4 | 8.1 | 8.2 | 2.6 | 1.7 | 3.4 | 0.9 | 15.8 |
| 2018-19 | PHL | 79 | 34 | 56.3 | 0.0 | 60.0 | 2.2 | 6.7 | 8.8 | 7.7 | 2.7 | 1.4 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 16.9 |
| 2019-20 | PHL | 57 | 35 | 58.0 | 28.6 | 62.1 | 2.0 | 5.8 | 7.8 | 8.0 | 3.3 | 2.1 | 3.5 | 0.6 | 16.4 |
| 2020-21 | PHL | 58 | 32 | 55.7 | 30.0 | 61.3 | 1.6 | 5.6 | 7.2 | 6.9 | 3.0 | 1.6 | 3.0 | 0.6 | 14.3 |
| 2022-23 | BRK | 42 | 26 | 56.6 | 0.0 | 43.9 | 1.0 | 5.3 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 3.3 | 1.3 | 2.3 | 0.6 | 6.9 |
| Total | 317 | 33 | 56.0 | 13.9 | 59.1 | 1.8 | 6.1 | 7.8 | 7.5 | 2.9 | 1.6 | 3.2 | 0.7 | 14.7 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Shots made / Shots attempted; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def= defensive rebound; Tot = Total bounces; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost bullets; Ct: Counters; Points = Points.
