Ben Simmons Breaks Down Why He Left The 76ers

by Daryl Nelson

Ben Simmons had an atrocious playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks last year. 

He constantly missed free throws, Trae Young kept chewing him up, and then there's that infamous play where Simmons passed up a wide-open dunk in Game 7.

In the following season, Simmons was fined for not showing up to practice and for not playing. He was traded to the Brooklyn Nets earlier this year in exchange for James Harden.

Simmons talked about his fallout with the Sixers on JJ Redick's The Old Man and the Three, and he criticized his former team.

"It seems like everyone is trying to f*ck with me now," he said. "I'm getting fined for not lifting weights but physically I'm one of the strongest guys on the team. They're fining me for little things. It was just a build-up. Obviously, I didn't handle things the right way but also, the team didn't either."

Simmons also talked about passing up that open dunk.

"In the moment, I just spun, and I’m assuming Trae’s gonna come over quicker," he explained. "So I’m thinking he’s gonna come for the ball and I see Matisse (Thybulle), and Matisse is athletic and can get up, so I’m thinking ‘OK. Quick pass, he’s gonna flush it’ not knowing how much space there was. It happened so quick that you just make a read."

Do you think Simmons will ever live down his poor play in Philly?