As of this moment in time, Ben Simmons is one of the most controversial stars in the league. A lot of people have criticized him for his performances in the playoffs against the Atlanta Hawks, though others have defended him while bringing up his contributions on the defensive end. There’s no question that Ben Simmons is good, but there are definitely concerns about whether he can continue to thrive on the Philadelphia 76ers.
Philadelphia 76ers legend Julius Erving has recently commented on all the noise about Ben Simmons on an episode of Nothing Personal with David Samson, and it seems as though he’s suggesting that the 76ers should run it back. Erving also stated that sometimes it does take a while before you can bring out of players.
“So it’s been a long drought in Philadelphia, our fans are eagerly awaiting for the team to get over the top. There’s a lot of controversy this year with the Ben Simmons situation, but it seems like the team is staying pat with their big three of Joel, Ben and Tobias. I think if they add pieces, get another year in with Doc Rivers, because you know last year was his first year on the job with the Sixers. Sometimes you need time with people to really know how to bring out the best in them.”
It remains to be seen whether Ben Simmons remains in Philadelphia when training camp rolls around. There has certainly been no shortage of trade rumors linking him with an exit though, and there are certainly teams around the league who are interested in acquiring the defensive-minded forward. However, there are some that share the same belief as Julius Erving and believe that the team is only a few pieces away from being a championship-level team. We’ll see what the 76ers will decide to do, but there are definitely ways Ben Simmons can still help the team.
