Opposing NBA scouts and executives have taken Ben Simmons to task and questioned his desire after he failed to play a single game for the 76ers or Nets all season, according to a report from Steve Bulpett of Heavy.com.
Sources who spoke to Bulpett talked of Simmons’ time with both the 76ers and Nets. And how the entire past year turned into a massive disappointment for both club when it came to getting anything from the former All-Star guard.
Simmons was expected to return from a lower back issue to play in Game 4 of the series vs. the Celtics. But he was a scratch on the day before the game. He and agent Rich Paul reportedly met with Nets GM Sean Marks ahead of Game 4, which the Celtics won to sweep the series.
“No one’s surprised,” a source told Bulpett. “I think people were more surprised that they announced he was going to play on Monday (for Game 4) than they were that he’s not.
“So like two more days were going to make a difference? I don’t get it. I do not get it. If you’re going to play on Monday, then why don’t you play on Saturday?”
Another source indicated Simmons doesn’t put in the work when healthy.
“The thing about him is he can’t handle missing,” he said. “It really came up obviously in his free throws in the last playoffs. But, like, he’d rather not shoot than miss.
“It doesn’t matter if he ever takes another jump shot. But he’s got to make free throws — and he just doesn’t spend the time. The first few years, he was always the last guy in and the first guy out (of the gym).”
Another rival executive concluded by wondering when Simmons will actually take the court and play in a game.
“When’s he going to play then, next year? Is he going to play in summer league? When’s he going to play? He’s got to play,” the exec told Bulpett. “Nobody wants to admit it, but it’s only getting worse. He hasn’t put a uniform on.”
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