When point guard Benjamin Simmons was taken No. 1 overall in the 2016 NBA draft by the Philadelphia 76ers, pundits were comparing him to the greats namely Magic Johnson and LeBron James. His size (6-10), athleticism, passing skills and multi-positional versatility put high expectations on him and for a time, he delivered.
After missing his first year to injury, Simmons evolved into a do-it-all player earning him Rookie of the Year honors in the 2017-2018 season. During the next three seasons, he was named an NBA All-Star and even ascended to superstar status when he was named to the All-NBA Third Team (2020) and NBA All-Defensive First Team twice (2020 and 2021). This was underscored by the fact that the 76ers rewarded him with a lucrative contract extension worth $175 million from 2020 to 2024.
Over his first four seasons in Philly, he was a triple-double threat averaging 15.9 points, 8 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.7 steals.
The stars were aligning for Simmons, but his career took a turn for the worse during that fateful night on June 20, 2021, in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Atlanta Hawks. Simmons passed a wide-open dunk with four minutes left in the game that was described as the “turning point” by his superstar teammate Joel Embiid. Simmons played his last game as a 76er amid fan boos and chants to trade him. During the 2021 playoffs, Simmons gained notoriety for posting the worst free-throw rate in NBA postseason history making only 25 of 73 attempts. He was also criticized for not attempting a shot in the fourth quarter in five of the seven games against the Hawks.
After receiving much online hate and derision from pundits, Simmons simply refused to play for the 76ers again and demanded a trade. Due to missing games and practices throughout the 2021-2022 season, Simmons was fined an estimated $19 million.
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He was eventually traded to the Brooklyn Nets where he spent three seasons in relative obscurity. Of the 246 possible games in three regular seasons, Simmons only played 90 games due to recurring back injuries and mental health issues. He was then derided as being lazy, lacks commitment and delusional.
His half-year stint with the Los Angeles Clippers was more of the same where he played only 17 games.
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Currently, the almost superstar Simmons is an unrestricted free agent and while many teams have expressed interest in getting his services, there are also those who are wary of him, especially if he brings his antics to the locker room.
Still, Simmons is only 28 years old, who is an elite passer and finisher and is versatile enough to guard all positions. If he remains healthy and adjusts his style of play, he can still contribute to any team and maybe prove that he still belongs in the league.
This is his has last shot, his last attempt at regaining his star status after years of mediocrity. Everybody deserves a second chance.
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