Sixers' Robert Covington to have knee surgery
NEW YORK - Robert Covington of the 76ers will have surgery in the coming days to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York.
The small forward said he would have arthroscopic surgery. The recovery time is normally four to six weeks, but Covington said he was told he could recover quicker.
"It's nothing that's serious or anything," he said. "The MRI showed that it's just a baby tear."
Covington added that the surgery is precautionary and that one of his options was extended rest. The fourth-year veteran received a second opinion and decided that surgery was his best option.
He was hurt March 28 in a game against the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center, his last action this season.
Simmons: Full contact
Ben Simmons announced Tuesday in a video on Uninterrupted that he's healthy to play basketball.
"Obviously, I had my scan today," Simmons said. "Green check. . . . I'm looking forward to getting back on the court. I'm looking forward to having a big season with the Sixers."
He has been cleared to participate in full-contact drills, putting him on the path to participate in five-on-five play. Simmons had been doing five-on-none scripting with teammates. However, the Sixers still intend to take a conservative approach to his progression to full basketball activity. ESPN reported that he is not expected to play in the summer leagues.
The first overall pick in the 2016 draft missed the entire season after suffering a Jones fracture in his right foot on the final day of training camp.
He underwent surgery and was expected to return in January and then in late February. However, the inside portion of the bone was not fully healed. So the team announced on Feb. 24 that Simmons would not play this season. Three days later, he had bone marrow injected into an unhealed area as a way to "stimulate bone growth and accelerate healing."
But Simmons received the "green check" on Tuesday.
"I'm really appreciative of everyone around me supporting me - my fans, family, of course friends, the Sixers, the Sixers' staff especially," Simmons said in the video. "They did a great job of making sure I was safety first and making sure I was good."
The Sixers intend to play the 6-foot-10, 250-pounder at point guard next season.
In other injury news, Jerryd Bayless has been cleared to use his left hand. The combo guard played only three games this season because of torn ligaments in his left wrist.
Henderson, George fined
The Sixers' Gerald Henderson and Indiana Pacers small forward Paul George were each fined $25,000 for their altercation Monday night in the Pacers' 120-111 victory at the Wells Fargo Center.
Henderson, a reserve shooting guard, was fined for receiving a flagrant foul 2 for elbowing George in the chin on his way to the basket with 2 minutes, 59 seconds remaining. That play was in retaliation after George elbowed Henderson in the back following a basket with 3:19 left.
George was fined for public criticism of the officials. Both players were ejected.
The two initially had to be separated and received double technical fouls with 5:08 remaining. Henderson was called for a foul when he and George collided and fell to the court. George then stood on top on Henderson. The Sixers guard responded by pushing the Pacers star out of the way before walking to the bench. George said he was pulled down by Henderson on the play.
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