Leg cramps cut short Aussie teen Simmons’ Sixers start

Ben Simmons walks on stage after being drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in the first round of the 2016 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on June 23, 2016 in the Brooklyn borough of New York City.  Mike Stobe/Getty Images/AFP

Australian teen forward Ben Simmons, taken by Philadelphia with the first pick in last week’s NBA Draft, will miss the 76ers’ NBA Salt Lake City Summer League game Tuesday against San Antonio after leg cramps in his debut.

Simmons departed in the fourth quarter of the 76ers’ 102-94 loss to Boston on Monday night with leg cramping and the team announced the 19-year-old would not play against the Spurs.

“That’s the worst I’ve ever cramped,” Simmons said.

Billy Lange, coach of the Sixers’ squad for the off-season tournament of prospects, said the Aussie standout might have been able to return but the team would be cautious given the long schedule of training exhibitions to come.

Simmons scored 10 points, grabbed eight rebounds and passed out five assists in his first on-court NBA action. Boston forward Jaylen Brown, selected third overall by the Celtics, had 16 points and six rebounds.