Ben Simmons' NBA career continued its downward trajectory last season as the former All-Defense guard appeared in only 15 games for the Brooklyn Nets in 2023-24. Lingering back injuries have completely sapped Simmons of the abilities he once boasted as a max contract player for the Philadelphia 76ers. His exit from the franchise was ugly for all sorts of reasons, but there's not much he can do about injury except rehab and hope it gets better. So far, that hasn't worked out.
Unfortunately for Simmons, the fact that he is not on the court does not shield him from the criticism that has closely followed him since that fateful Sixers-Atlanta Hawks playoff series in which he, along with his team, collapsed down the stretch with a perfect chance at a conference finals appearance on the line. Which is how we find ourselves here, in the year 2024, hearing unkind thoughts from former teammate Georges Niang.
