NBA world ‘can’t stop laughing’ at Ben Simmons as epic fail goes viral

Ben Simmons hasn’t played an NBA game in nearly 18 months and judging by a viral video, he hasn’t improved his shooting at all.

Ben Simmons had a shocker of an airball.

Oh dear, Ben Simmons.

The Australian-born guard is finally injury free and ready to play his first NBA game for the Brooklyn Nets, but it seems his shooting is just as bad as ever.

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The Nets were having a casual shootaround in front of fans at Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 2 this week and Simmons thought he’d try his luck shooting a mid-range jumpshot.

Unfortunately for Simmons, the shot sailed way left of the hoop and the brutal airball was caught on camera and quickly went viral on social media.

Ben with the shot 👀

(h/t @AhnFireDigital) pic.twitter.com/sRcy5SRa6Q

— NBACentral (@TheNBACentral) October 11, 2022

This is so good. Ben Simmons should never ever take a shot in public. Including during the season in NBA arenas.pic.twitter.com/meqRuupfqT

— Cousin Sal (@TheCousinSal) October 11, 2022

Fox Sports Doug Gottlieb tweeted: “Ben Simmons gonna blame the wind!”

The Ringer’s Kevin O’Connor said: “Ben Simmons shoots with the wrong hand.”

Podcaster Jason McIntyre added: “I can’t stop laughing at this Ben Simmons shot.”

After this latest effort, Simmons would be a brave man to shoot the basketball in public again, let alone at an NBA game.

Simmons’ unwillingness to shoot has been the biggest criticism of his game since he began his NBA career.

He famously fell out with the Philadelphia 76ers after he passed up an open dunk against the Atlanta Hawks in the 2021 playoffs and was thrown under the bus by Sixers coach Doc Rivers and then teammate Joel Embiid.

Ben Simmons still can’t shoot. Photo: Elsa/Getty Images/AFP

It sparked the messiest divorce possible for the Aussie.

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 in a podcast with former teammate JJ Redick.

“Then mentally, it killed me. I was like, f***, no energy for anything, like I was in a dark place.

Simmons was traded from the Sixers to Brooklyn midway through last season but didn’t play a single game for his new team as the Nets were thrashed by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the playoffs.

He then underwent back surgery in the off-season.

The 26-year-old finally made his return to the court last week in a pre-season game and had a solid hitout against his former team.

The NBA season begins next week on Wednesday October 19 (AEDT).