Ben Simmons called out Shaquille O’Neal for exposing his personal DMs in public. The three-time NBA All-Star missed the last season due to some issues with his former team Philadelphia 76ers. Simmons refused to take the court after a difference in opinion with the team management. Therefore, he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets this summer by his former team. Ben Simmons recently opened up about his mental struggles during the phase. He also called out Shaq for not reaching out despite the two being LSU brothers.
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NBA fans empathized with Ben Simmons’ struggles and expressed disbelief regarding Shaquille O’Neal‘s actions. Simmons appeared on J.J. Reddick’s podcast, revealing that he texted Shaq after the incident. Ben was not happy about Shaq blaming him for the whole fiasco without knowing the whole story.
?Ben Simmons opens up about Shaquille O’Neal
Fans were touched by Simmons’ revelation about his mental health struggles. The dedicated NBA enthusiasts took to Twitter and criticized Shaq for his involvement in the whole matter regarding Ben Simmons and the 76ers.
Simmons said, “When I was dealing with everything going on, I actually messaged him. You ain’t reached out once and say, ‘Hey, you okay? What’s going on?'” The Nets point guard was disappointed by Shaq’s lack of empathy after the Lakers legend exposed Simmons’ personal messages.
Many NBA fans tuned in to the controversy. They condemned O’Neal for not reaching out to Simmons when he needed it the most. One of the fans commented, “Thinking Millionaires don’t deal with common mental health problems is disastrous.”
Thinking Millionaires don't deal with common mental health problems is disastrous.
— SavionExpress (@Savcon3) September 22, 2022
Many athletes have opened up about their mental health struggles in recent times. It might come as a surprise to believe that millionaire athletes struggle with mental health too. However, it is quite true.
Shaq receives some heat from the fans
Fans advocated that Shaq was unaware of the real story behind the scenes. Ben Simmons’ recent revelation has provided insight into the mindset of athletes during tough situations. Here are some of the reactions from the fans.
https://twitter.com/Marsali234/status/1573046778584502272
Then we need to stop with the whole “basketball is a brotherhood” bit.
— 🇭🇹Koulangyetmanmanw (@vociferouspoet) September 23, 2022
These ex NBA players be on some other ish
— サブゼロ (@ICExWATERx) September 22, 2022
Most of us don't get to have a year off from our jobs while still getting paid in millions, it's really hard to feel sad for you man. Good that you're in a better state of mind now.
— Guntas Singh (@GuntasSingh13) September 23, 2022
https://twitter.com/fmlkaren/status/1573229912701505536
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Shame on Shaq for not offering Ben Simmons a shoulder to cry on.
— The Atlanta Sports Ledger (@AtlSportsLedger) September 22, 2022
Ben Simmons’ recent revelation paved way for a new social media battle between Shaq and his fans. While some fans believed Simmons’ call out is an exaggeration, others came in his support and questioned O’Neal for his comments.
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However, Simmons would have increased pressure to perform when he returns to the court this season after missing out on a whole season. It will be interesting to see how things go for Simmons at the Brooklyn Nets this year.