Another season, another period of inactivity for Nets swingman Ben Simmons. Since leaving the 76ers years ago, Ben continues to find reasons to not play on the court, and his agent, Bernie Lee, says he is to blame for the ongoing availability concerns.
“We continue to try and find non-surgical options to allow Ben to move forward on a permanent basis and that is where this is my responsibility and I am [the] one to blame,” said Lee via Ian Begley. “When I began working with Ben I made a commitment to him that I would do everything I could to find the right answers and specialists for him to work with [in order] to move forward from the issues he has been having. Clearly, it hasn’t happened and that’s my responsibility.”
It’s noble of Bernie to fall on the sword for his client, but you’d be hard-pressed to find anyone who blames him for Ben’s shortcomings. While Simmons’ health has been a major obstacle for his career so far, it was his decision to force a trade from the 76ers and it was his decision to skip months of games during his falling out with Daryl Morey.
With the Nets, Ben joined a team hoping to compete for a title — but now, he’s the last remnant of a forgotten era and a shell of his former self. This season, with averages of 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 5.7 assists per game on 58.1% shooting, Simmons is putting up modest numbers and his latest absence is proof that nothing has really changed about his situation. To this day, fans are still wondering where it all went wrong for him.
What Happened To Ben Simmons?
As a 3x All-Star, there was a time when Ben Simmons was considered among the best young players in the game. During his peak playing days with the 76ers, he was averaging an impressive stat line of 16.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game on 56% shooting. He was also an expert defender and was named to the All-Defensive team twice in his career.
From the beginning, Simmons’ biggest problem was shooting. Despite his talents as a playmaker, finisher, and defender, the guy was a liability on the floor due to not being able to shoot more than a few feet beyond the rim. For years, Ben refused to even attempt three-pointers, and every fan could see that it was holding back his game.
It all came to a head in the 2021 NBA playoffs when the 76ers lost to the Hawks in an embarrassing showing. Simmons famously passed up a wide-open layup in the series and both the coach and his co-star Joel Embiid, called him out after the game.
That summer, Ben cut off all ties with the franchise and it would be months before he’d play again. Sadly, mostly due to injuries and the lack of a jump shot, Simmons’ play just hasn’t been the same and he’s become an afterthought on a Nets team that sits 11th in the standings.
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