Does Ben Simmons Even Like Basketball?

While the Sixers had a solid opening night win against the New Orleans Pelicans to start off their new season, the Ben Simmons saga casts a large shadow over the team and will do so until he is traded.

He finally showed up to practice in order to get fined despite his public trade demand and got himself suspended for the opening game for not participating in practice. As much as the fans want him out of the building, him and Klutch Sports did themselves no favors by publicly quitting on the team. Now both Simmons and the Sixers are stuck with each other until they can get a trade close to his value, which will likely never happen and he’ll have to go for something half his worth.

Now things continue to get worse as him and his camp are making more excuses for his absence.

Rather than at least try to show up and play, improve his game and raise his trade value, he has the hubris to make up every excuse he can to not play for the Sixers. Will he be booed loudly if he takes a step on the court? Absolutely. Will it take a lot for the boos to stop? Yes. Can he win back the fans if he works hard and tries to work on his flawed game? Yes he can. Is he willing to try? No.

By continuing to make a public spectacle of himself and his team, the Sixers and Simmons are trapped in purgatory together seemingly for awhile.

This raises one more question: Does Ben Simmons even like playing basketball? Does he only play the game because it’s the only job which provides him with large income and allow him to live an extravagant lifestyle? It seems he’s only on the court and giving the minimum amount of effort to get a significant amount of money. Relying solely on his gifted talents rather than work to improve his glaring weaknesses.

This was perhaps his mission since blossoming into a teenage phenom before his one year at LSU: Go into the NBA and get the generational wealth that allows him to live the American dream. To be honest there’s nothing wrong with that approach. It’s legal and everyone has a right to make their money and live their life the way they want to. The price Ben has paid by not improving his game is his own fanbase losing faith in him after four years of supporting him. And with the fans lack of faith is that of his teammates, coaches and executives who now realize that one of the more talented young players in the NBA is also a liability.

Ben Simmons’ lack of development as a player and behavior over the past few months comes off as someone who doesn’t really love basketball, just someone whose good enough at it and wants to give the minimum amount of effort to be compensated. Living the rich lifestyle, traveling the world and dating celebrities seems like his top priority, and we hope continues to enjoy that lifestyle…just not as a member of the 76ers.

So here’s a trade proposal I’m actually on board for:

By Mike McCarrick | October 21, 2021