Australia's highest-paid athlete Ben Simmons claims he and a number of his entourage were refused entry to Crown Casino - and suggested he thinks he knows why they were allegedly turned away.

The Philadelphia 76ers star on Monday posted a since deleted video to Instagram, shot in the foyer of the Melbourne casino.

Simmons, 23, who recently signed a $242million NBA contract extension, claimed his white friend, Alex Subers, wasn't checked at the entrance - but the remainder of the group were.

'I find it so crazy that the only guy who doesn't get checked to go into the casino is this guy,' Simmons said in the video, pointing to his friend.

The Philadelphia 76ers star on Monday posted a since deleted video to Instagram, shot in the foyer of the Melbourne casino

The NBA superstar and Australia's highest paid posted the video from the foyer of Melbourne's Crown Casino (pictured)

'I get checked, Mike gets checked and Tys gets checked.'

Simmons then pans the camera around to show his entourage agreeing with his allegations, before zooming in on two security guards standing behind.

'Thank you Crown Casino, damn, and they didn't let me in, or him or this guy,' Simmons continued.

'Wow, we got a long way to go.'

Daily Mail Australia has contacted Crown for comment.

Ben Simmons sparks romance rumours with model Talia Richman as she joins him at Melbourne AFL game - two months after he split from ex Kendall Jenner He split from ex-girlfriend Kendall Jenner in May, after over a year of dating. And now NBA star Ben Simmons, 23, has sparked speculation he has moved with Australian model Talia Richman, 24. Ben was spotted enjoying an the Essendon vs. Port Adelaide AFL match on Saturday with the beauty from within a private box in Melbourne's Marvel Stadium. Moving on? Ben Simmons was spotted enjoying the company of Australian model Talia Richman, 24, in Melbourne on Saturday, as she joined him to watch the AFL at Marvel Stadium According to news.com.au, Ben was seen enjoying the game while sat with Talia and several friends in their private box. Daily Mail Australia has contacted representatives for both Ben and Talia for comment. Like Ben, Talia is originally from Australia, but relocated to the States to pursue her modelling career. She now bases herself in New York. Heading Stateside: Like Ben, Talia is originally from Australia, but relocated to the States to pursue her modelling career and now bases herself in New York. Born in London, she grew up in Perth until she was eight years old, before then moving to Brisbane. The influencer was picked up by GQ in 2016, who tipped her as an up-and-coming talent on the runway. Her Instagram page is littered with shots of her showcasing her modelling credentials. Brunette beauty Talia has racked up an impressive 104k followers and is often seen posting steamy bikini snaps and smoldering selfies on the social media app. Stunner: Brunette beauty Talia has racked up an impressive 104k followers and is often seen posting steamy bikini snaps and smoldering selfies on the social media app Ben's appearance in Melbourne with the model comes just two months after news surfaced revealing he and his ex Kendall Jenner had split. The basketball star was first romantically linked to Kendall in March 2018 and the pair dated for over a year, before calling it quits. In May, an insider told People magazine the couple were officially on a 'break'. End of the road: Ben's appearance in Melbourne with the model comes just two months after news surfaced revealing he and his ex Kendall Jenner have split Sources claimed: 'The relationship ran its course. [Kendall] is spending time with her friends and back to being in fun mode.' The couple were known for keeping their romance relatively private, with Kendall explaining in an interview with Vogue that she doesn't like to bring 'too much attention' to her love life. 'I’m very young and, right now, I feel like relationships aren’t always super-certain. 'I don’t want to bring too much attention to something if you don’t really know long term [what it’s going to be],' she said. All over: Basketball star Ben was first romantically linked to Kendall in March 2018 and the pair dated for over a year, before reports claimed their romance had 'ran its course' Advertisement

Simmons became Australia's highest paid athlete in July when he inked the $242million contract extension with the 76ers.

The deal is a significant step up from his four-year $37m rookie deal that will see him earn $11.5m this season alone.

Simmons will make a staggering $42m in the first year of his new contract.

His pay will then increase to about $55m in the final years of the deal, alongside an additional $20m from a contract with Nike over five years.

Doubt still hangs over whether the Melbourne-born NBA All-Star will play for Australia later this year at the World Cup in China and in Melbourne and Perth exhibition games.

His absence would be a major blow to the Boomers' hopes of claiming a medal in China in September and to huge crowds of Australian fans planning to watch him play exhibition games with the Boomers.