By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly Editor 
The Philadelphia 76ers open their season tonight against the Oklahoma City Thunder and just over a half hour prior to tip-off, top overall pick Ben Simmons met with the media for the first time since having surgery on his right foot to repair a Jones fracture. When news first surfaced about Simmons' injury, shortly afterwards there were some reports there was no way his agent would let him play at all this season. Simmons put that to rest, saying that was never a consideration for him.
#Sixers Simmons says he never considered not playing this season.
— Tom Moore (@tmoore76ers) October 26, 2016
The 6-foot-10 forward suffered his injury on the final day of Sixers training camp at Stockton University at the end of September. After x-rays revealed a fracture, Simmons had surgery at the beginning of October. Since then, Simmons said he's been doing upper body exercises and reached out to Kevin Durant, who missed time to a Jones fracture at one point, to talk about the injury.
Simmons has been doing upper body work during foot rehab.
— Jessica Camerato (@JCameratoCSN) October 26, 2016
Simmons says he had screw inserted in foot surgery. Says first player he talked to was Durant. 'Hopefully I'll be back as soon as possible.'
— Tom Moore (@tmoore76ers) October 26, 2016
Simmons didn't have a specific timetable of a return. Joel Embiid briefly talked to reporters in the locker room prior to warm-ups and said that he's told Simmons to take his time, not rush and listen to what the coaches and doctors say.
Expect the Sixers to be extra cautious as they have been with other injured players, whether it be Joel Embiid, Jahlil Okafor or Nerlens Noel.
