RISING Philadelphia 76ers star Joel Embiid knows exactly what Ben Simmons is going through.

Embiid, 22, spent the best part of two years recovering from foot injuries and remembers how isolating it can be.

He also knows the value and importance of being made to feel part of the team so has done his part to help Simmons through the agonising wait for an NBA debut.

Australian No.1 draft pick Simmons has been recovering from a foot fracture suffered on the final day of Philadelphia’s pre-season training camp in October.

The 76ers still haven’t set a date for their star recruit’s return but coach Brett Brown on Monday gave an optimistic update, suggesting Simmons’ training activities with the team were about to increase.

But the signs of team chemistry are already positive, with the coach delighted by a social media photo that showed Simmons celebrating New Year’s Eve with 76ers teammates Embiid, Nik Stauskas, T.J. McConnell and Nerlens Noel.

A photo posted by Ben Simmons (@bensimmons) on Dec 31, 2016 at 10:58pm PST

Simmons remained in Philadelphia during the Sixers’ nine-day road trip but was invited to join his teammates to celebrate the turn of the year when they got back.

“That’s fantastic,” Brown said of the post, according to CSNPhilly’s Jessica Camerato.

“I really like stuff like that. You know how important is it to all of us to grow a continuity, a family. When you have people in and out, in and out, and people’s future are uncertain, words end up cheap.

“To grow that type of thing off the floor is the holy grail. You combine that work they’re doing on the floor with stuff where they interact and coexist, it’s not the be all or end all, but it certainly helps. That stuff is very pleasing to me.”

Embiid, the 2014 No.3 draft pick, said it was players like Noel that made him feel included when he say out his first season due to broken navicular bone in his foot.

“That’s something I feel like Ben is going to appreciate a lot because I was in that type of situation,” Embiid said.

“When I was by myself I felt kind of left alone and when I had guys around me it just made me feel better.”

Brown, meanwhile, said Simmons was “moving along fine” in his injury recovery, despite mystery still surrounding a possible return date.

“It’s still obviously not to the point where he’s on a floor practicing, but nobody should be worried that his foot is not healing,” the coach said.

media_camera Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Some experts initially predicted Simmons could return in late December, while others feared the injury could keep him out for the entire season, but the 76ers did not set a return date for Simmons.

Brown’s latest comments suggest the club remains hopeful of having the Australian fit to make his debut this month — but it’s clear he won’t be rushed.

“It’s a three-pronged attack,” Brown said of Simmons’ recovery process.

“One is just normal health and recovery with a physiotherapist, and nutritions and diets and those types of exercises to get his foot healthy.

Ben Simmons on the floor after practice: pic.twitter.com/Uhh0n4MPuE — Bob Cooney (@BobCooney76) January 2, 2017

“The other part is the breakdown of his shot, form shooting, going from in a wheely thing ... to being on one foot, the growth of that. And the final thing is just him with me: which he’s been with a lot in the classroom.

“All those things — while he’s back here and we are not here — then some of those things happen and other parts don’t.

“You’re going to start seeing him being integrated more and more now that this new year is upon us.”

Originally published as ‘Classy’ Sixers have Simmons’ back