PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Will the Sixers keep Ben Simmons for next season, or will the team trade him after a disappointing performance in the second round of the playoffs?
While we all wait patiently on Simmons Watch, soon-to-be unrestricted free agent Danny Green hopes frustrated fans will support his teammate.
On the latest episode of NBC Sports Philadelphia’s “Take Off with John Clark,” Green admitted that the Philadelphia crowd can certainly have an effect on someone like Simmons, who has struggled at the free-throw line.
“I think that’s something that needs to change in the city,” Green said. “I love our fans, but when things aren’t going well, they can turn on you. … Some guys use it as motivation. Some guys, it’s a chip on their shoulder, but I think that needs to change somewhat. They need to be riding with us regardless of how things are going.
“We were the No. 1 team in the East, still playing well, and in some games, they’ll boo us. But that's part of the culture here and it’s part of their way of showing they love us, but with a guy like Ben and the other guys, I think they need to stick behind him and stick by him as long as they can until the horn blows. … He’s given so much to this organization, to this city, on and off the court, that he deserves that respect and that support.”
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Clark said some Philadelphia fans get caught up in the so-called “self-fulfilling prophecy” of being tough. On the flip side, the last 76ers championship was in 1983.
“I understand it,” Green replied. “A lot of frustration over the years. I understand it. We had a golden opportunity this year and I’m sure there will be plenty with years to come with the guys that you have here, but just enjoy it, love them.”
Green also said fans need to respect them and not throw debris on the court, which he acknowledged happened in multiple NBA cities during the playoffs.
“I just try to throw little things out there to let them know we love you, but at the same time, protect us, encourage us and stay by us like we stand by you regardless of wins and losses.”
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Green emphasized that while it’s “human nature” for fans to get out of control because they really want to win, players are humans too.
“To threaten us, threaten our family or talk crazy about us, it does get to some people,” he said. “Obviously we ignore it, but we’re not just items or just people you look at from afar or science experiments. We are human and we do make mistakes.
“We aren’t perfect, and believe it or not, we are trying and we want to win and we do care, and that’s every single one of us.”