Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons, the first pick in the 2016 NBA draft who missed last season due to a broken right foot, has been cleared for full basketball activity "for some time," an NBA source told the Bucks County Courier Times.
Center Joel Embiid, who was sidelined late last season due to a torn left meniscus, has yet to be cleared for full-court scrimmaging, the Courier Times reported. Embiid made his long-delayed NBA debut last season after missing two years due to foot surgeries.
Simmons scored 34 points Monday in a pickup game at home in Australia. The 6-foot-10 Simmons fractured his foot last September and the team announced in late February that he'd miss the entire season. Simmons was initially expected to miss three months after surgery for an acute Jones fracture in his foot.
While attending the Las Vegas Summer League in July, Simmons told reporters he views himself as the team's starting point guard, despite Philadelphia drafting Markelle Fultz with the top pick in June's draft. The Sixers see Fultz as a shooting guard to complement Simmons in the backcourt.
Embiid, meanwhile, had his meniscus surgically repaired on March 24. Until being sidelined by his most recent injury, Embiid averaged 20.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.5 blocks per game and finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting despite having his minutes limited and not playing on back-to-back nights.
