Ben Simmons might have ended his holdout, but he won’t be playing in the Philadelphia 76ers’ 2021 season opener. The All-Star was kicked out of practice Tuesday and suspended for the team’s first game.

Coach Doc Rivers told Simmons to go home when Simmons twice refused the coach’s request for him to participate in a defensive drill, according to The Athletic’s Shams Charania. Philadelphia announced that Simmons won’t play Wednesday against the New Orleans Pelicans because of conduct detrimental to the team.

“He was a distraction today, I didn’t think he wanted to do what everybody else was doing,” Rivers told reporters, via Serena Winters. “It was early, it wasn’t a big deal. I just told him, he should leave then, and we went on with practice.”

Simmons surprised the 76ers last week when he joined the team for the first time since they were eliminated from the playoffs. The 25-year-old had refused to report to Philadelphia, demanding a trade. The 76ers were looking to deal Simmons but couldn’t find a team willing to meet their asking price.

Joel Embiid told reporters that he no longer cares about the situation with Simmons, adding that it’s not his job to baby-sit someone. Embiid said he hasn’t spoken with Simmons since he rejoined the team.

It’s unclear if Simmons will participate in the team’s next practice or their home opener, which is set for Friday night against the Brooklyn Nets.

With Embiid finishing second in the MVP race and Simmons making his third straight All-Star team, Philadelphia had the East’s best record last season. The 76ers were upset by the Atlanta Hawks in the second round of the playoffs, during which Simmons disappeared down the stretch of games.

Simmons has four years and $147 million left on his contract.

Ben Simmons Doc Rivers 76ers
Head coach Doc Rivers of the Philadelphia 76ers speaks with Ben Simmons #25 during the first quarter against the Atlanta Hawks at Wells Fargo Center on April 28, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images
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