The NBA Playoffs are deep into the final few rounds, but the talk over one player for one team that made a quick exit from the playoff tournament is still running hot. Yup, we’re talking about how NBA fans and media analysts are still dogging Ben Simmons for his zero contribution to the Brooklyn Nets this season (and postseason).
If you’ve been reading along here on the ShaqFu Radio blog, you know that the big man has been highly critical of Ben Simmons and his lack of contribution to the Nets this season. O’Neal is certainly not alone… he’s been only one of the many analysts offering their opinions on Simmons. Those opinions have often – but not always – been negative.
Along with Shaq, fellow NBA analyst Reggie Miller has also been highly critical. There are previous posts on Miller’s thought on this matter… check previous posts here on ShaqFu Radio.
As for Simmons – and the rest of the Brooklyn Nets – it’s off-season. We’ll have to wait and see what happens next season. Keep in mind, Simmons did not play a single second for the Nets during the entirety of his time there this season after being traded in from the Philadelphia 76ers.
As for Simmons, he’s talked about various injuries and other issues that have prevented him from playing. Some analysts have defended him, saying anyone other than Simmons cannot know what’s going on with his body.
On the other hand, there’s O’Neal. On several different shows and podcasts, he’s stood by his opinion that Simmons’ excuses are just that – mere excuses. He’s even talked about people who aren’t athletes, yet still have to go to work to earn a living.
In response, Simmons hasn’t said much about what kept him sidelined this year. Still, he has tweeted some thoughts, including the idea that Shaq should apologize to him for his comments.
The latest round happened when Shaq did an interview for The Bleacher Report podcast and website. On the show, O’Neal said there would be no apology coming. Shaq up the conversation too, saying he could not understand how Simmons could sit on the bench with $300,000 Gucci apparel and chains.
On the interview, host Taylor Rooks brought up Simmons’ mental health and anxiety issues and suggested that could be the reason he wasn’t speaking up. Shaq said, “If you have anxiety shooting free throws, you have anxiety putting on green leather, $300,000 worth of chains… I can understand you have anxiety in the game. But when you are not playing and sitting on the bench and you know $300,000 Gucci and big chains and rings. Do you have anxiety then? That’s all I wanna know…”
Still, Shaq did say that if some new information comes out as to what happened to Simmons this year, he was open to the idea of changing his mind. Did that include the possibility of an apology? Shaq didn’t say.
For more on the O’Neal interview with Bleacher Report, check out the full video by clicking the image below.
