All eyes were on Ben Simmons once again during the Brooklyn Nets and Milwaukee Bucks game. The Nets lost to the Bucks with a score of 110-99. Many believed it was partly due to Simmons’ blunder on the court. However, the captain of the team Kyrie Irving stepped up and called out Simmons’ naysayers.
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Instead of shooting the ball; Simmons, who could have taken a clean shot, dribbled it once and passed it to Kevin Durant. Fans were frustrated that Simmons played it without even looking at the hoop.
However, it also appeared that Kyrie Irving had yelled?at Ben Simmons to shoot, and was visibly disappointed with Simmons’ pass. This moment was then picked up as the NBA world debated Simmons’ negligible scoring night for the Brooklyn Nets.
Kyrie Irving on Ben Simmons:
“You guys keep coming in here asking me like what about Ben? He hasn't played in two years. Give him give him a f**king chance. We stay on his s**t. You just stay on him. But we're here to give him positive affirmations.”
(via @NYPost_Lewis) pic.twitter.com/TqNSPPsCap
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) October 27, 2022
Kyrie Irving responded to the backlash that his teammate faced. He then went on an abuse-laced rant after being posed a question about Ben Simmons. He said he was constantly getting asked this question. Irving told that the criticism has been unfair because Simmons hadn’t played for 2 years. “Give him a f**king chance!”, he said. He continued and told that he wouldn’t be dissecting what his teammate did right and wrong on a public platform after each game night.
Brooklyn Nets’ leader Kyrie Irving supports his teammate
Irving also said that they were also tending to him, in the best way possible. He said the media was portraying him in a bad light, whereas the team has been encouraging him with positive affirmations.
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Earlier this week, during a post-game press meetup, Irving said that Ben Simmons was valuable to the team. He ensured that Simmons knew about this and the team kept each other accountable.
He did confess that he would like Simmons to play more aggressively. However, that would take a backseat because the team prioritizes playing smart.
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In another interview with ESPN, Irving also said that it was his duty as a leader to protect Simmons. He has also imparted his own observations and advice to Ben Simmons on how to handle the criticism he has received from the media and fans.
What do you think of Kyrie Irving’s comments on Ben Simmons? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.