In recent years, Brooklyn Nets PG, Ben Simmons, has drawn flak for being a no-show on multiple occasions. Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal have left no stone unturned to berate him for being unavailable and putting up underwhelming performances repeatedly. However, there was a time when Simmons was dubbed a generational player, and his 6’10” frame, coupled with all-around abilities, invited comparisons to Magic Johnson and LeBron James.
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After missing the 2016-17 season, due to injury, he made a deep impression during the 2017-18 season earning the Rookie of the Year honors.
In 2018, renowned analyst, Colin Cowherd, heaped praise on Simmons. In fact, he took a leap of faith and declared that Simmons would replace his favorite, LeBron James, as the face of the league. Cowherd believed that Simmons’ impact in the league would be similar to greats like Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, and LBJ.
Back then, for him, even Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook didn’t exude similar vibes as the former LSU guard. On his The Herd pod, in 2018, Cowherd proclaimed,
“When I watch Ben Simmons play, it is just a gut feeling, that is something between LeBron and Magic. I felt the same way when I saw Magic break in, I felt the same way when LeBron broke in.”
This is the single worst hot take of all time.
Ever
Makes me laugh every time
pic.twitter.com/6BpyMsB3BE— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) June 22, 2024
Of course, these comments have aged horribly and Simmons isn’t even a shadow of LBJ or Magic. He did win three straight All-Star nods from 2019 to 2021 and cracked the All-NBA First Team Defense twice, but in the subsequent years, he faded away dramatically. Constant injuries and the lack of offensive contributions during the postseason have derailed his career.
Fast forward to 2024, and Cowherd’s statements have become a subject of ridicule. He couldn’t foresee that the 27-year-old wouldn’t elevate his offensive game and become more of a role player with each season. It proves that such lofty comparisons can bring underwhelming results and to craft a career like LeBron James, Magic Johnson, or Michael Jordan still remains a rarity.
