When he has the best opportunity to prove that he can still be an excellent player without caring about the post-season, Ben Simmons probably has decided to sit out the rest of the 2022-23 season with “back-soreness”.
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The #1 pick of the 2016 draft has had some wild twist and turn in his 7 years in the league. From being in the conversation to being the NBA’s next LeBron James, he could find himself without a team in 2025 when his $177 million contract expires.
With his attitude or his health (considering all reports are true), he is surely not playing with a contender again. This might be why Shannon Sharpe and NBA Twitter are shaking their heads.
Ben Simmons has a sore back and is out indefinitely. Again!
Recently, reports came out that Simmons, who was already out of the Nets’ last five games due to knee trouble, would further stay out because of back soreness, without a timeline to return.
Ben Simmons has experienced back soreness while ‘strengthening his knee this week’, per Jacque Vaughn.
There is no timetable for his return. pic.twitter.com/2dQGmXK0yH
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) March 4, 2023
It sent NBA Twitter, including Fox Sports analyst, Shannon Sharpe, into a frenzy.
— shannon sharpe (@ShannonSharpe) March 4, 2023
The worst part is Simmons, Bridges, and Claxton trio would lead the best defensive team in the association IF Simmons had any desire to compete.
— Uriah Young (@uyoung76) March 4, 2023
Tragic turn to this young man’s career. It’s sad
— Per Sources (@PerSources) March 4, 2023
But some already knew it was coming.
— Evan T. Mack (@evantmack) March 4, 2023
They are sure he is going to China after his contract expires.
— . (@Reypachec0) March 4, 2023
This is not what you expect from a professional. But hey, this man sat out the whole 2021-22 season as well. That, too, after getting traded from Philly to the Nets. Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and he could have run through the East. That had clearly shown his attitude and fear of the expectations of the entire world.
But doing that now, again, with no hopes of contending from even the fans in Brooklyn? It’s just sad to see. However, the writing was on the walls all along.
Also read: After Shaquille O’Neal Mocked Him, Ben Simmons Deletes All IG Posts
Simmons had a bad reputation even before making it to the NBA
The Melbourne-born LSU guard’s attitude and behavior were questionable even before he made it to the NBA and after making it here, he missed out on his first season as he rolled his ankle and fractured a bone in a scrimmage.
After missing out on the 2016-17 season, he made a tremendous comeback and won the Rookie of the Year award for averaging around 16 points, 8 rebounds, 8 assists, 1.7 steals, and a block per game.
That also established him as the best two-way guard in the league. And he went on to make 3x All-Star appearances, an All-NBA Team selection, and 2x All-Defensive First Teams in 2020 and 2021.
That was it, starting with the 2021 Playoffs, his career has been going downhill, on the steepest of hills. The man is not averaging over 7 in any column and is out with a “soreness”.
