Ben Simmons came into the NBA with a lot of hype.  He was a phenom from Australia who could play great defense and distribute the basketball as well as most players in the league. 

The Philadelphia 76ers selected him in the draft, and after several years in the league, the team discovered a few critical things about their guard that had the ability to be a star player. 

He can’t shoot.

He’s selfish. 

And according to some reports coming out this week, he might also be broke. 

Yes, even with a 5-year, $170 million contract, his shopping habits might have him in severe financial trouble. 

Fans who follow the league know that Simmons was outed as being inept at shooting during the playoffs this past summer.  Free throws, jump shots, 3-pointers, heck, he was even petrified of driving in for a dunk. 

He wanted a trade from Philly, and when that didn’t happen, he held out of camp, being fined six figures weekly for it.  He still has not played a game the entire season, claiming to have mental health issues.  He is continuing to be fined, and that cash register is ticking. 

Howard Eskin is the top sports radio host in Philadelphia, and he reported that Simmons is going broke. 

“I was told by somebody very reliable he may be tapped out, broke. Cash flow broke. Because he’s losing so much money, but he spent so much money. 17.5 million dollar home; remember he has to pay taxes too. 17.5 million dollar home. He’s got two homes in the Philadelphia area, probably worth eight or nine million. He buys a new car every month, four or five hundred thousand. He spends money like it’s nothing because he thinks it never ends. And the person that told, it’s very reliable that he has got serious cash flow issues.”

What’s interesting is that the solution is so simple for Simmons. All he has to do is come back to work and start making millions again.  The Sixers would have to pay him if he did that, even though the Philly Fanatic has a more accurate jump shot. 

@tomzenner  (Twitter)

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