All-Star Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons passed his physical on Tuesday and met with the team's management. However, he is still not eligible to participate in team-related activities up until Friday due to safety and health protocols. Sources told ESPN.
Simmons met with Daryl Morey, Sixers president of basketball operations, and Elton Brand, general manager -- their first contact since August -- in a meeting that sources only described as "brief."
Sources say that the Sixers will host a preseason match at the Detroit Pistons on Friday. It's unclear if Simmons will be able to participate in the game, as he has been absent from the team the past two weeks.
According to NBA protocols, Bobby Marks of ESPN obtained from ESPN, a player who has been fully vaccinated for COVID-19 must return at least one negative result to a polymerase chain reactions (PCR) test that was conducted by the team prior to interacting with Tier 1 staffers.
Unvaccinated players must pass two negative rapid molecular tests before they can return to the facility or participate in individual exercises where there is no other player. The player who has returned two negative rapid molecular testing could be allowed to interact with staff and teammates if he does not return the second one.
Adrian Wojnarowski of ESPN was told by sources that Simmons, who had just returned to the Sixers unexpectedly, took a COVID-19 test, which was facilitated and started his onboarding process.
