“I’m glad Ben Simmons is on the bench, if he didn’t that would’ve told me a lot about him”: Shaquille O’Neal is pleased to see the former Sixers guard facing Philly fans for the first time since 2021 Playoffs

Akash Murty | 11/03/2022
Ben Simmons takes the bench for the first time in Philly since the 2021 Playoffs, and Shaquille O'Neal is glad that he did.

Ben Simmons takes the bench for the first time in Philly since the 2021 Playoffs, and Shaquille O’Neal is glad that he did.

The 25-year-old All-NBA guard returns to his former home in Philadelphia when the Sixers take on the Nets on Thursday inside Wells Fargo Center. Since his trade to Brooklyn last month at the transfer deadline, it will be the first time Ben Simmons will directly face the Sixers fans.

The deal that saw James Harden swap jerseys with the 6’11 point guard came in as a relief for most fans and also everyone on the Sixers management. They might not have got half the value of the trade they got, had Harden felt comfortable in Brooklyn.

Also read: “Ben Simmons, why spit in the face of Sixers fans, shoot the ball”: Sixers fans in Philadelphia heckle the former Sixers guard as he makes his way to the Wells Fargo Center

As things stand, Sixers got lucky. But that wouldn’t stop the hostile Philly fans to welcome their 3x All-Star back.

They might be hostile, but Shaq believes Simmons did the appropriate thing, not avoiding it.

Had Ben Simmons not been on the Nets bench, Shaquille O’Neal would’ve known “a lot about him”

Simmons did not suit up for his new team to take the court against his former employers, as he is dealing with a back issue. But still, he decided to be present courtside and face his demon, which he’s been avoiding for far too long.

It will be the first time that Ben will be in the building since Game 7 against the Atlanta Hawks in the 2021 playoffs. He believes he had his reasons to do so, and Shaquille O’Neal is glad that he didn’t avoid the fans this time and is sitting on the bench.

It would have raised several questions such as, why a 3x All-Star and a 2x All-Defensive first team doesn’t have the gut to face his fear? Does he not believe that what he did was right and necessary? Is he not good enough to again be the face of an NBA franchise? And many such questions along that line.

That is why Shaq is happy that Ben came to Philly to face his worst fear and be done with it for when he takes on the court when they face each other next time, which if they do, will be a Playoff game.

Also read: “Joel Embiid and James Harden on the verge of breaking decades old NBA record”: The Sixers duo might end up being the first pair since 1982 to win scoring and assists title with same franchise

 

 

 

Post Edited By: Akash Murty
Ben Simmons Brooklyn Nets Philadelphia 76ers Shaquille O'Neal

About the author

Akash Murty

An Electrical and Electronics Engineer by degree, Akash Murty is an NBA Editor at The SportsRush. Previously a Software Engineer, Murty couldn’t keep himself away from sports, and his knack for writing and putting his opinion forward brought him to the TSR. A big Soccer enthusiast, his interest in basketball developed late, as he got access to a hoop for the first time at 17. Following this, he started watching basketball at the 2012 Olympics, which transitioned to NBA, and he became a fan of the game as he watched LeBron James dominate the league. Him being an avid learner of the game and ritually following the league for around a decade, he now writes articles ranging from throwbacks, and live game reports, to gossip. LA Lakers are his favourite basketball team, while Chelsea has his heart in football. He also likes travelling, reading fiction, and sometimes cooking.

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