Closing in on a return after an eight-month hoops hiatus, all eyes are on Nets newcomer Ben Simmons, one of the most polarizing sports figures in recent memory. The three-time All-Star and former Rookie of the Year has been subject to harsh criticism for the way he handled his Sixers departure, with many accusing Simmons of quitting on the team that drafted him first overall in 2016.
Critics of Simmons have questioned everything from his commitment (if anything, his shooting has only gotten worse over time) to his mental toughness, short-circuiting in last year’s Eastern Conference semifinals, which Philadelphia would ultimately lose to Atlanta. The Simmons saga has sparked much debate over athletes and mental health. Some would argue Simmons deserves sympathy for what is clearly a mental block of sorts, imploding on the NBA’s biggest stage, then having to revisit his failures every day on First Take. Others see an immature 25-year-old unwilling to make the sacrifices necessary to become an all-time great.
The truth, as it often does, likely lies somewhere in between with fans and media ganging up on Simmons, exacerbating what was already a delicate ecosystem surrounding a coddled player in need of constant praise. There are plenty of bad feelings to go around with Danny Green and Joel Embiid both venting about their past experiences with Simmons, though Seth Curry doesn’t think his Nets teammate has anything to apologize for.
“He doesn’t need to apologize to anybody,” said Curry, who, along with Simmons and Andre Drummond, was traded to Brooklyn earlier this month in a blockbuster deal sending James Harden to Philadelphia. “When he's on the court, I know he's going to do his job and he's going to do what he does. So I understand the business. He was doing what he felt was best for himself business-wise and personal-wise.”
The date everyone has marked on their calendar is March 10th, which is when Simmons returns to Philadelphia, assuming the 6’11” Australian is healthy enough to play. Even for nosebleed seats, fans are looking at $200 just to get in the door at Wells Fargo. Simmons is going to get an absolute earful from fans, though Curry would argue that level of vitriol isn’t warranted.
“I went to battle with him last year,” Curry expressed to ESPN’s Nick Friedell ahead of Thursday's game against Boston. “It looks like he's in a better place mentally than I saw him earlier in the year. I'm looking forward to getting him back on the court and doing what we got to do."
Curry acknowledged the tension that existed between Simmons and other members of the Sixers organization (Embiid, in particular), but dismissed the narrative put forth by Warriors All-Star Draymond Green (a longtime teammate of Curry’s older brother, Stephen), who claims Curry and Simmons had a falling out. “I don’t know what [Draymond] meant by that,” said Curry. “The relationship was fine. He just wasn't around so we didn't see him a lot.”
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram