PHILADELPHIA — The Wells Fargo Center was filled to the brim Thursday night with Philadelphia 76ers fans seething in anticipation of facing disgraced former player Ben Simmons for the first time since last summer’s heartbreaking playoff loss.
But it wasn’t the arena-shaking moment Sixers fans had long been anticipating. Simmons, who was traded to the Brooklyn Nets exactly one month ago, avoided a big entrance at his former home court, and snuck out during the introduction of the Sixers players. When the lights of the arena came on, there was Simmons, huddled with his teammates.
Once Philadelphians saw him, they erupted in boos and periodically broke out into expletive chants.
