Amidst all the criticism Ben Simmons is facing, one Sixer took to Instagram Live to defend Simmons.
"I don't think it's right that everybody is sending this man bad messages and all this negativity," said Dwight Howard on IG Live. "I think it sucks."
"We are supposed to be the City of Brotherly Love. The best thing we could do is send him some positivity. This man is 24 years old! He is still learning who he is as a person and a player. I know a lot of stuff, they can say whatever they want about this man, but he is still a young man and he is my teammate. I don't care how any of ya'll feel about my teammate, I'm gonna stick with him no matter what."
Howard finished his rant by addressing Simmons directly:
"Ben, I got your back. You my brotha, and I love you I want everyone to know that. He might have messed up, didn't take no shots, didn't do whatever - he is gonna come back better next year."
For five seasons, Simmons has minimally improved as a shooter. Both Doc Rivers and Daryl Morey addressed the offseason plan they have in place to improve the Sixers' point guard and Simmons is skipping the Olympics to work on "skill development". However, Simmons' work ethic and desire to improve has come under scrutiny, and it remains to be seen if Simmons is willing to take his game to the next level. It seems to be the right time after a historically bad free throw shooting display in the postseason and the backlash over passing up a dunk.
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