Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers appeared on ESPN's First Take Wednesday to promote his new podcast. While speaking with Stephen A. Smith, Rivers was asked about recent reports claiming that Ben Simmons no longer wanted to be a part of the team and was willing to sit out the entire season rather than play for the franchise.

Rivers acknowledged the fractured relationship between the star player and the Sixers organization. He was complimentary of Simmons and highlighted the player's various contributions and stated that the team planned on convincing Simmons to stay.

"We're not going to give up on that," Rivers said. "You know how I feel about Ben...I've always defended him, I just love how he plays, I love a lot of the things that he does for our team. Unfortunately, we focus so much on his offense and we don't focus on a lot of other things he does. Ben's been under a lot of pressure in Philadelphia, we know that. Having said that, we were one game away from the Eastern Finals last year. No one picked us to be where we were at. And so I look at last year as the first step, not the last step...we have to go through all of this to get him back, there's no doubt about that." 

The relationship between Simmons and the Sixers seemed to be fractured beyond repair after Rivers was non-committal in his response as to whether he felt Simmons could be the leading point guard on a championship team. Rivers claimed his response was misrepresented and that he contacted Simmons the next day after their Game 7 loss in the NBA Playoffs.

"I never said what was reported," Rivers responded. "The question was asked about Ben, it was the first question after we just lost Game 7, my answer was, 'I'm not answering any of that stuff right now guys, I don't even know how to answer that.' That had nothing to do what's about Ben, I was basically just saying I'm not answering that crap, those questions. It was being portrayed that I was out there saying I don't think we can win with Ben, and I do. I told Ben that the next day. What really disappointed me was the next day I went on and said guys, y'all knew exactly what I was talking about, and no one heard it. They just kept running their narrative. I've been in sports a long time, and I'm not misrepresented very often, but in that case, I was. But it is what it is. Ben knows, Rich knows, and I know."

The championship coach also pointed out that many star players have had issues with their team in the past and have returned after claiming they wanted to be moved. He also added that Simmons still has four years left on his max deal, so the Sixers have more leverage.

"That may be where he's at today, that may not be where he's at tomorrow. You just don't know, and that's why we got to keep communicating and see where we can take this," Rivers said. "He has four years left on his contract, it's in our hands...once we get him back in the fold, then we can get to work. If that doesn't happen, I don't have an expectation. Because I don't know where we would go. That will happen if it happens, but right now Ben is still part of this team, and I'm gonna focus on that part of it."

Look above to view Doc Rivers' interview with Stephen A. Smith.