Former NBA All-Star Ben Simmons has been on the decline for years, but he’s speaking like someone who’s on the verge of a major redemption arc. In a recent chat with the New York Post, Simmons opened up on the path ahead and sent a message to those who have accused him of robbing his teams.
“People make comments saying I’m robbing. No. When I got that contract, I was playing at a super high level,” said Simmons. “Unfortunately, I had injuries. But for somebody to say that, it’s disrespectful. [But] people can say what they want to say. They’ve got to live with it. At the end of the day, it all catches up with you.”
Simmons, 28, is a 3x NBA All-Star and 2018 Rookie of the Year. After being drafted first overall in 2016, he developed into a star for the 76ers and led them to prosperity in the East for years alongside Joel Embiid.
In the 2020-21 campaign, tensions began to grow between Simmons and Embiid until it all came to blows in the Eastern playoffs. Simmons’ confidence was completely zapped and the 76ers collapsed in the series to give the Atlanta Hawks a major upset win.
That summer, Ben demanded a trade from the team and things have never been the same sense. Besides a constant injury struggle, Simmons cited mental health issues as the reason for his absence and even after he was traded, his game never fully recovered.
This upcoming season might actually be the most important of Ben’s career. The star swingman is about to enter the last season of his 5-year $177M contract, meaning that it’s his last chance to earn a long-term contract before becoming a free agent.
As it stands, no team in their right mind would sign Ben Simmons to any type of multi-year contract considering he’s played in just 57 games over the past three seasons. Even when healthy, his game is a shadow of what it once was with averages of 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game compared to a stat line of 16.4 points, 8.0 assists, and 7.8 rebounds per game back in 2020.
Every year, despite his struggles, Simmons tries to hype up his return with claims of full health and strength but it never comes to fruition. Whether it’s injuries, load management, or something else entirely, Simmons has so far been unable to channel his All-Star form and it has put the Nets in a difficult position.
So when Ben spewed his latest batch of propaganda, it’s no wonder that NBA fans were quick to dismiss it. After being in the dark for so long, Ben Simmons is going to have to earn his way back to the fan’s good graces and he’ll have to prove that he is still the same guy who was drawing comparisons to LeBron James out of college.
With just six years of experience under his belt, Simmons still has time to salvage his career before becoming a free agent next summer. With no Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving to horde the spotlight, Simmons has a unique opportunity to make the Nets his own and put together the kind of run that makes them want to re-sign him for many years to come.
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