If James Harden eclipsed the last trade season talks, it is Ben Simmons now. The Philadelphia Sixers player is trying his best to become a ‘former’ Philly point guard amidst all the resistance. He has made it quite clear that the 76ers now have no way of keeping him on the squad.
It appears that ‘The Peacemaker’ will soon lose his nickname. This, because he has built such a heavy bitterness towards Philadelphia that there’s no peace in sight. It is almost as if he can play for an Aussie league rather than come back to Philly. But why?
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Ben Simmons wants no connection with Philadelphia Sixers fans
It’s no news that Philly fans are brutal, and that they demand excellence from each and every player of theirs. From the days of Charles Barkley, the Sixers fans have shown time & again that they test their own players more than a rival team. And all that followed after the nightmarish Game 7 against the Hawks has left a bitter taste in Ben’s mouth.
In a recent revelation, famous American Sportswriter Brian Windhorst clearly stated how this is a major factor behind Simmons’ outburst. Take a look at his thoughts on this –
Brian Windhorst says Ben Simmons playing in front of Sixers fans is a ‘factor’ in him wanting out of Philadelphia
“He doesn’t want to be in front of those fans. …I don’t think he intends to ever show his face there again.”
(Via @SiriusXMNBA ) pic.twitter.com/Ltt0ccwARf— NBA Central (@TheNBACentral) September 25, 2021
Well, not showing his face won’t be possible because sooner or later the 3x All-Star will have to play in the Wells Fargo Center. Now, this can either be in a Timberwolves jersey or some other.
The Fresh Prince denied meeting his teammates
To their credit, the trio of Joel Embiid, Matisse Thybulle, and Tobias Harris was eager to meet Ben Simmons. They wanted to reach LA and try to persuade their lost mate back into the squad. However, the 25-year-old denied the offer and stated that he has “mentally checked out”. So there’s no way on Earth that Ben will again don that blue and white jersey.
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Interestingly, Philly guard Matisse does not see Ben at fault here. In fact, the 24-YO fellow Australian agreed that “He [Ben] was thrown under the bus” and hinted at Simmons unnecessarily being made the scapegoat of the 76ers debacle. But turns out that it’s too late to speak in favor of the enraged star who has no willingness to make amends .
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So what’s your prediction? Will Ben Simmons reconsider his decision and make peace? Help us know your point of view in the comments.
Watch this story – Ben Simmons, Kyle Kuzma, and Other NBA Players Who Have a Lot to Prove Next Season