Ben Simmons Continues To Be An Absolute LOSER
Ben Simmons has been pampered his entire life. He’s used to everything coming easy, being unconditionally loved, and never having to answer for himself or be held with any sort of accountability. If you’re a Philadelphia sports fan, you already knew that. Simmons’ refusal to play for the Sixers in the first half of the 2021-22 season was well-documented in local and national media.
This story was so captivating, in part because this situation was unlike any of its kind in sports history, let alone NBA history. Simmons outright denial to suit up for the team, or be at all accommodating was fascinating because the further removed we get from the situation, the more bonkers it gets.
Simmons was upset with the Sixers after being publicly “called out” by Joel Embiid and Glenn Rivers after the Sixers collapse in the 2021 playoffs. Rightfully so, in my opinion and the opinion of most other Sixers fans. Simmons not only couldn’t knock down free throws, he was scared. Despite being a point guard, he never wanted the ball in his hands. Despite being paid like the all-star he was, he wanted no responsibility on the court. Despite enjoying all the fruits of his talent and popularity of being a star in the NBA, Simmons played like he didn’t even belong on the court in that series loss to the Hawks. Perhaps even worse than that, he acted like he didn’t want to be on the court.
So, Rivers and Embiid answered honestly when asked about Simmons’ play in that series. It appears, or at the very least, it has never been denied by Simmons, that this was the main reason he wanted out. Oh, and because the big bad Sixers fans were mean to him. (He chooses to forget all the support this fan base showed him the first five years of his career).
Despite having almost no leverage for a trade due to his contract, outright refusal to shoot the basketball, and coming off as the textbook definition of a primadonna, the Sixers were still able to trade him at the deadline as part of a package for James Harden. Now, Brooklyn Nets fans, and the organization for that matter, are learning the hard way about the kind of character Simmons has.
Don’t Say We Didn’t Warn Ya
Following a Game 3 loss vs Boston, the Nets players asked Ben Simmons in a group chat if he was ready to play in Game 4. Ben Simmons did not answer the question and proceeded to leave the chat, per @RicBucher on @TheHerd.
“KD was like ‘This is who I’m playing with?!” 🍿 pic.twitter.com/c5gGH7zUT1
— Unbiased NBA Fan (@nonbiasednbafan) August 7, 2022
Ahem.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHAHAAHAHAHHAAHHAAHAHAHHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
That is the funniest fucking thing I’ve ever heard. This is so on brand it hurts. They called us crazy. They called us BULLIES. They said we were unfair to Simmons and that he would show the league how bad the Sixers messed up. Please, just give me a chance to relish in the tears of the like, 14 Nets fans in the world.
Think back to the playoffs. The Nets are on the verge of being swept by Boston despite having two of the greatest talents this sport has ever seen. Simmons’ outlook in terms of returning to the lineup was changing every day. First, there was optimism he could be ready for the start of the playoffs. Then, it was thought he’d come back when the Nets returned home for game 3. Then, as it turns out, the Nets were DAMN NEAR BEGGING him to play in game 4.
How does Simmons respond? He doesn’t.
I’m falling over in my chair laughing as I type these words. NOT ONLY DID HE NOT ANSWER. HE LEFT THE TEAM GROUP CHAT. YOU HAVE TO BE KIDDING ME. The best part about this, it’s completely believable. No one has questioned the validity of this story because we have no reason to believe it’s not true.
This Is Who He Is
Simmons once told Philadelphia reporters in a press conference that he is who he is. He continues to prove that every time his name comes up in the news cycle. It’s his way or the highway. This all goes back to my earlier statements.
He’s used to everything coming easy, being unconditionally loved, and never having to answer for himself or be held with any sort of accountability. He’s the definition of a coddled only child (despite not being an only child). When the going gets tough, Simmons doesn’t fight through it. He abandons the situation. He thinks that if anything in life is hard it’s not worth doing, which couldn’t be further from the truth.
The truth is we all know who Ben Simmons is without personally knowing him. We all know someone exactly like him. He’s too gifted for his own good, resting on his own laurels. He’s never had to work hard for anything in his entire life. He’s the last one in, the first one out, rather than the other way around. He doesn’t put in any work that isn’t absolutely necessary, and even that’s not completely true for Simmons.
He faked a back injury and lied about having a mental health issue so he could keep being paid for not playing. Anthony Gargano and Andrew Salciunas say it best on their show on 97.5 The Fanatic: Simmons wants to be a celebrity. He doesn’t love basketball, he loves the life that basketball has provided for him.
Now, after Philadelphia fans were dragged through the mud for calling out the truth, everyone is beginning to learn what we already knew. The Sixers were never the problem. The city and it’s fans were never the problem. The problem with Simmons is and always will be that he’s a complete and utter loser.
Most people play sports for the love of the game, for the love of competition, for the love of winning. Simmons plays basketball merely because he’s 6’10” and has been blessed with God-given athletic ability.
I cannot overstate how happy it makes me that he isn’t this fan base’s problem anymore. Good riddance, loser. We, as a fan base, are owed an apology.