Ben Simmons has attracted a lot of negative attention over the last year with his situation with the 76ers and now the Nets. Simmons started the season with the 76ers but refused to play until he got traded to a new team.
Upon getting his wish at the trade deadline, many expected Simmons to make a return before the end of the season, if not the playoffs. But that never happened, which has led to Simmons becoming a subject of controversy among many fans. But one NBA legend who refuses to lambast him is former 76ers star, Allen Iverson.
Iverson, who is considered by many as one of the greatest 76ers players of all time, recently said in an interview that while he was upset about the fact that Ben Simmons left the 76ers, he won’t hold it against him, as he doesn’t know much about the situation.
On top of that, he noted that he wishes Simmons nothing but the best and that he can overcome his current situation with regard to his mental health.
“I’m a Sixer to the death, so obviously I’m disappointed,” Iverson said. “But I don’t know what goes on in someone else’s head, and you always try to give somebody the benefit of the doubt. I would like to think that I had a good relationship with him. And I’m pretty sure that he knew that I was supporting him.”
“I’m still rooting for him, you know,” Iverson added. “Obviously he’s not with [the 76ers] anymore… But I’m thinking about him as a person. You know what I mean? I hope he comes out well from this whole thing, especially if we’re talking about mental health [concerns]. … We don’t know what’s going on in his mind. And we don’t know about the people that’s surrounding him and feeding him the information that he needs to get past this whole thing that we definitely wish — if you care anything about him — that it passes. You know what I mean?”
Despite Simmons leaving Iverson’s team in a controversial fashion, it seems to be all love between the two. Simmons will be chomping at the bit for next season, as he’ll have the perfect opportunity to prove everyone wrong and show the world why he is considered one of the most impactful two-way players in the league right now.
Simmons is the perfect addition to Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving in Brooklyn. While both players are sensational offensively, they are not the same on the defensive end. And Simmons is an All-NBA level defender, who can also distribute the ball and run the floor. If they are surrounded by the right pieces, the Nets could find championship success with the trio.
