Former 76er Who Saw Ben Simmons Pass-up the “Dunk” Against Trae Young and Co Recollects Events That Followed: “Not Blameless”

Several players like Zion Williamson, Lonzo Ball, Anthony Bennett, and Karl-Anthony Towns were expected to become the new stars of the league in the past decade. However, they didn’t live up to the hype they received. One name among them is Ben Simmons, the first-round pick of 2016. Despite being a two-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year, he couldn’t fulfill his potential due to his lack of a reliable jump shot. Standing tall at 6’11” with the agility of a guard, he had great promise stuck by his name. In 2021, the Philadelphia 76ers, after half decade of the “Trust The Process” campaign, had a prime opportunity to win a championship. However, their hopes fell apart during the conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, particularly in the crucial Game 7.

During game 7, Ben Simmons visibly struggled on the court. In turn, Joel Embiid faced challenges to find his rhythm. Following that season, the team’s caliber declined significantly. Philly fans, to date, have assertively suggested Ben Simmons to be the reason behind the organization’s downfall.

Debunking the saga around Simmons

Fans are still puzzled by Ben Simmons refraining from dunking over Trae Young during the 2021 Playoffs. Atlanta Hawks surprisingly won the series against the top-ranked Philadelphia 76ers. The series marks Ben Simmons’ struggles, as he didn’t perform at the level of an All-NBA player as he had previously.

In a recent episode at?Fresh 24 with Marc Zumoff, JJ Reddick and Marc conversed about the same topic. Zumoff is the former play-by-play announcer for the 76ers. Reddick believes that the Hawks series still lingers on the 6’11 forward. Reddick resonated with the suspected mental hurdles Simmons might be facing. Despite that, he did not hesitate to chime the well-deserved blame on Simmons. “Something long term has affected him from that Atlanta Series,” he said. “As a friend, as someone who I had a lot of success with playing with; I feel for him. And I agree, and I think Ben would say this. He’s not blameless. We’re not looking for a charity case here.”

Simmons averaged 9.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 8.6 assists in the series. Additionally, he often avoided shots in the second half of games. His performance in the critical Game 7 was disappointing, with just 5 points.?

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That series was the final factor in a tiring trade situation for Simmons. He was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in exchange for James Harden.

After NBA, Ben Simmons’ national team radiates concerns

When the Philadelphia 76ers drafted him, some saw Simmons as the next LeBron James. But he failed live up to the hype. But lately, the Australian national basketball coach talked about Ben Simmons and his possible involvement with the Australian Boomers in the 2023 FIBA World Cup. Simmons was born in Melbourne and has even represented his country in the Under 17 FIBA tournament.?

Considering that many NBA players join their national teams, one might assume Simmons would too. However, Brian Goorjian (head coach of Australia) suggested that Simmons is unlikely to join them.

The reports stated that the Nets star wouldn’t play for Australia due to his ongoing back injury rehabilitation. Even though Simmons could still benefit the team, Brian Goorjian emphasized that he won’t actively pursue recruiting Ben for the team.

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Even though the Brooklyn Nets seemed to have lost interest in Simmons, his national team’s decision was unexpected. Simmons is undergoing his recovery process and plans a successful comeback to the game.?