Ben Simmons opens up on ugly NBA drama, mental health battle
Polarising NBA star Ben Simmons has opened up on a host of contentious issues that have impacted his career and life in the past 15 months.
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Ben Simmons concedes he could’ve managed his trade exit from the Philadelphia 76ers better, but says the 76ers were also complicit in an ugly situation that “killed” the Aussie star and left him in a “dark place”.
Simmons has broken his silence on a host of contentious issues that have impacted his career and life in the past 15 months.
The Melbourne-born guard was a guest on former 76ers teammate JJ Redick’s The Old Man and the Three podcast on Friday.
Simmons revealed how significant criticism has impacted him during his career.
It comes as the gifted guard has endured a public battle with mental health in recent years following his departure from Philadelphia.
He reached a settlement surrounding his former team’s refusal to pay his $20 million salary, despite insisting he was unable to play for mental health reasons.
Now Simmons has broken his silence on why he returned for two days of practice after requesting a trade to leave the 76ers.
“Because I was trying to do the right thing,” Simmons said.
“I just wasn’t in that place to play. I just wasn’t. I just couldn’t do it.
It was just a build-up (of things). Obviously, I didn’t handle things the right way, but, also, the team didn’t either, and the people who had that power.”
Simmons was kicked out of Philadelphia practice by coach Doc Rivers for being a “distraction” after he declined several times to sub in for a drill.
He was suspended for conduct detrimental to the team.
“I actually spoke to Doc before practice. I was like, ‘Doc, I’m not ready. Mentally, I’m not ready. Please just understand that,’” Simmons said on the podcast.
“I tried to let him know prior, and he was like, ‘Well, I’m going to put you in anyway.’ I’m like, ‘All right.’ He told me to get in. I looked at him. It was like one minute into practice, like, ‘Ben, get in.’
“I’m like, first of all, no one’s doing that. You’re doing this on purpose. And that’s how I felt, too. It seems like everyone’s trying to f--- with me now. I’m getting fined for not lifting weights, but physically I’m one of the strongest guys on the f---ing team. So now they’re fining me for little things.”
The trade predicament at Philadelphia sent Simmons into a spiral mentally, which was made worse when he didn’t feel supported at the 76ers.
“I was in such a bad place where I was like, f---, I’m trying to get here and you guys are, like, throwing all these other things at me to where you’re not helping. And that’s all I wanted, was help,” he said.
“I didn’t feel like I got it from coaches, teammates — I won’t say all teammates, because there’s great guys on that team that did reach out and are still my friends — but I didn’t feel like I got that, and it was just a tough place for me.”
ADDRESSING CRITICISM
Simmons revealed he has mentally struggled for some time, even before the infamous Eastern Conference play-offs series against Atlanta last year. The NBA world is still confused as to why a player with all of his weapons fell apart in the post-season.
Simmons now-famously refused to take an open dunk in the fourth quarter of Game 7 and teammate Joel Embiid and coach Doc Rivers appeared to throw him under the bus in the aftermath of their elimination.
Simmons said the reaction “killed me”.
“It got to a point where after that [Hawks] series, it’s like from the people you’re supposed to have that support from or that comfort from, I wasn’t getting that either so it was a toll on me,” he said.
“Then mentally, it killed me. I was like, f***, no energy for anything, like I was in a dark place.
“The first thing for me was really identifying that I got to get right. It’s not a physical thing, it’s mentally. I think that first thing of acknowledging it is a huge step for me. I need to address this, I need help in these areas. Being able to do that, that was the start of getting to where I’m at now. I’m in a great place and I feel comfortable talking about it now.”
SHOOTING STRUGGLES
Simmons is used to copping heat about his lack of a jump shot, but he says the constant cracks eventually became too much to handle.
He said of the criticism: “I didn’t really realise that early on in my career.
“This started building up and I’m like, ‘They’re saying I can’t. Should I not? I’m f***ing confused now’.”
“It did f*** with me a lot. But I kind of found peace in a place where I’m just like f*** it, it’s basketball.”
He also said of the criticism of his shooting: “I think for a while it was just so repetitive.
“You’re hearing it all the time from everybody. You’re like, f***ing hell, get off my case. Like, I do other stuff too. I’m guarding the best players. That’s one thing, I don’t think people respect that enough, like what I’m bringing to the court because there’s a lot of s*** I’m bringing to the court.”
RESPONDING TO SHAQ
Basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal has been extremely critical of Simmons.
O’Neal said Simmons needed to have a thicker skin if he was going to cope with the criticism that came with being a star player, even telling him to “man up”.
The NBA great also accused the Aussie of using mental health as an excuse for refusing to take to the court for Philadelphia.
Simmons said O’Neal’s criticism hurt him, especially after the Lakers legend had previously supported him as a fellow LSU College graduate.
“When I was dealing with everything going on, I actually messaged him, and he put it out, and I was like, all right,” he said.
“I DM’d him. I was like, ‘Why are you saying this if you don’t even know the story?’ ‘Cause he always wants to say, ‘Yo, we’re LSU brothers. You’re my brother.’ All this, that, if you’re my LSU brother, you would have reached out by now, and it’s been months since I been dealing with this. You ain’t reached out once and say, ‘Hey, you okay? What’s going on?’”
MOTIVATION
Simmons has been labelled greedy and money hungry, particularly when he reached his settlement with Philadelphia to recoup a portion of the nearly $20 million withheld from him.
The polarising guard feels frustrated that people think he just cares about cash.
“I don’t care about the money,” he said.
“It’s not about the money for me now. I want peace and happiness. I want to be in a good place, and if that costs me whatever it’s going to cost, that’s what it costs. My peace is more valuable than money.”
He is expected to be ready for the start of training camp with the Nets later this month, joining new teammates Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
“It’s going to be sick. I can’t wait,” Simmons said on the podcast.
“I’m so excited. Got a new number, new jersey. I’m just looking forward to it. I think we have a special team. I think if we get it all together, we’re going to be the champions. That’s the end goal.”
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