Speaking on the ‘YoungMan&TheThree’ podcast, Nets veteran Ben Simmons reflected on his tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers. While his exit was among the most toxic in recent history, he says he’s grateful for his time there and for the fans who showered him in support.
“I probably didn’t appreciate the fans enough,” said Simmons. “Like the fans in Philadelphia are incredible. You always want to play for a team that has a good fanbase, whether they’re boring or whatever. You just want fans to care. You want the arena packed. So just having that experience in Philadelphia was amazing. I’m so grateful to have played there and experience the city of Philly and know what it feels like to play for a team like Philly and play for a winning team. Winning in Philly is different, there’s no place like it. I’m just grateful to have that experience and know what it’s like to be a part of an organization like Philadelphia.”
Ben Simmons, 28, is a 6-year NBA veteran and multiple-time All-Star. He was drafted first overall by the 76ers in 2016 and quickly rose to fame as one of the best players in his class. He and his co-star, Joel Embiid led the 76ers to prominence out of ‘the process’ era and enjoyed dominant success in the regular season for several years.
Sadly, the 76ers were never able to get past the second round and their failure to live up to expectations ultimately spelled their undoing. After a particularly ugly playoff series against the Hawks ended in disaster, Simmons finally cut ties with the 76ers in a dramatic exit that is still being felt today.
Not only did Simmons make himself unavailable for games, but he completely isolated himself from his teammates and made an enemy out of the fans. By the end of the ordeal, Ben created a completely toxic situation for both himself and the team.
Simmons was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets but his play over the years has been heavily limited due to injuries that have derailed his career. This season, after a long hiatus, Simmons is finally back in action with averages of 6.3 points, 7.1 assists, and 5.3 rebounds per game on 55.5% shooting.
In the last year of his contract, Simmons’ future is up in the air right now and it remains to be seen what his next opportunity will be. As one of the league’s premier defensive wings, Simmons has the potential to fit into any system and if he can further develop his shot, it’ll be all he needs to return to his former glory.
As for a potential return to the 76ers, anything is on the table in free agency but with Paul George and Joel Embiid, the franchise is not in a position to take any more risks. At this stage, with everything that he’s been through, Ben Simmons is still a risk to any team and there’s much he needs to prove before he can fully recover his trade value.
For now, Ben is doing his best to help his current team and play the best that he possibly can. Now that he’s in good health, Ben has a chance to climb back into stardom but the path is anything but easy. Fortunately, with his new perspective on the past, we can hope that he’s learned from his mistakes and is ready to make amends.
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