‘Utterly ridiculous’: NBA pundit blasts Ben Simmons in epic rant

A leading NBA pundit has unleashed on Ben Simmons in an epic rant as the mystery over his potential return to the court continues.

Stephen A. Smith has ripped into the Ben Simmons situation.

NBA pundit Stephen A. Smith is baffled as to how Ben Simmons has not suited up for the Brooklyn Nets yet.

In a discussion with Kendrick Perkins on “First Take”, Smith ranted that the situation with Simmons is “utterly ridiculous”, the NY Post reports.

Perkins believed it had reached the point where the will-he-or-won’t-he-play entanglement with Simmons has become too big a distraction for the Nets, and that they should just shut him down for the postseason.

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Smith disagreed, reasoning the Nets could use Simmons, even if he’s a black hole on offence, to help their leaky defence.

If it was just for 10-15 minutes a game, Smith argued, that would still be worthwhile.

“What are we talking about here?” Smith asked, after going to absurd lengths to wonder what Simmons could be doing instead of playing, like going to get manicures and pedicures.

“This is utterly ridiculous,” he said.

“The fact of the matter is he should’ve been playing since the time he came from Philly.”

Smith continued to wonder what is taking Simmons so long to play.

It’s been a very long time since Ben Simmons has played an NBA game. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

He said: “Guess what, he came from Philly, and you know what, mental health issues, we take it very seriously. He gets traded from Philly, however, … gets to Brooklyn, got a cheesy smile that would put George Foreman to shame.

“Hopping off the bench, high-fiving everyone, chilling out, all this other stuff, comfortable as hell!?

“But now we’re talking about basketball and all of a sudden we don’t know if he’s ready. The brother ain’t played since last June. OK, we got that. Don’t get me started with the pothole on the turnpike he must have hit, or he was getting his groove on and he hurt his hip!”

Host Molly Qerim briefly intervened: “Settle down …”

Will he finally ditch the street clothes and make an appearance in the playoffs? (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)

Undeterred, Smith continued.

“I don’t know what the hell you’re doing that you hurt your back when you ain’t played since last June,” he said.

There have been rumblings Simmons could play at some point throughout the Nets’ first-round series against the Boston Celtics, which begins on Monday (AEST).

However, both Kevin Durant and Brooklyn coach Steve Nash have said they don’t expect an imminent return.

This article originally appeared in the New York Post and was repurposed with permission.

Originally published as ‘Utterly ridiculous’: NBA pundit blasts Ben Simmons in epic rant