Don’t panic, but Nick Castellanos just bought Ben Simmons’ Philadelphia house
Phillies’ Nick Castellanos reportedly purchased former 76ers’ Ben Simmons’ home
As Steve Carrell’s Michael Scott famously said, “I’m not superstitious, but I am a little ‘stitious.”
The line is ringing in my head like the Liberty Bell since news broke today that newest Philadelphia Phillies star Nick Castellanos just purchased the home of none other than disgraced former Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons.
Nick Castellanos is the new owner of Ben Simmons house (via @975Middays)
— Crossing Broad (@CrossingBroad) April 6, 2022
pic.twitter.com/NPRXZLIiFI
Presumably, it’s Simmons’ Moorestown, New Jersey mansion, which was listed last fall for $5M. The home boasts five bedrooms and six bathrooms, and when Simmons lived there, a neon sign that displayed ‘Simmo the Savage!’ in poison-green on one wall. Moorestown is about a half-hour away from Citizens Bank Park.
“Simmo the Savage” in green neon in Ben Simmons Moorestown home, just listed for sale this afternoon for $5M. Ben Simmons house just a yard over from next street where Terrell Owens lived when he was sent home from training camp&then worked out in front of media @FOX29philly pic.twitter.com/MTUaRfmqDP
— Steve Keeley (@KeeleyFox29) October 20, 2021
The Castellanos’ new abode could also be Simmons’ 3-bedroom Ritz-Carlton condo in the city, which was also listed last fall, for the slightly more affordable price of $3.1M. The views are seriously stunning, and it’s a 15-minute drive to the ballpark.
Castellanos signed a franchise history-making five-year, $100M deal last month, so either (or both) are well within his price range.
Understandably, Phillies fans are a bit concerned about Castellanos having any association with Simmons, whose time with the Sixers ended disastrously. Last summer, he declared that he wanted a trade from the Sixers, despite having four years left on his enormous contract. His hold-outs led to him becoming the most-fined player in NBA history before he was finally traded to the Brooklyn Nets for James Harden, exactly one month before the MLB lockout ended. He has yet to play a game for his new team, reportedly due to a recurring injury.
While it’s clearly a stretch to say that Castellanos buying Simmons’ home would lead to history repeating itself, it also shows how toxic and outrageous the Simmons situation was, that this is even being discussed. However, Castellanos knows what he’s getting into coming to play in Philadelphia; he made that clear during spring training:
"“If you’re playing well, they’re gonna let you know. If you suck, they’re gonna let you know. I can live with that.”"
Philly fans are brutally honest, and some athletes either don’t mind it or don’t care. Others can’t handle it. Simmons fell more into the latter category.
Hopefully, there are no bad vibes left in the house.
