NBA playoffs 2023: Ben Simmons trolls Philladelphia 76ers after Boston Celtics loss

A season that promised so much is over, with the Philadelphia 76ers imploding in the NBA playoffs again. And it’s fair to say Ben Simmons enjoyed it.

Former 76er Ben Simmons was enjoying a red wine as another Philadelphia process blew up in the franchise’s face.

A Philly season that promised so much is over after the Sixers succumbed to a Boston blowout in a forgettable Game 7 performance.

As the 76ers were closing in on a shocking 112-88 loss to the Celtics, Simmons couldn’t help but troll his former franchise.

The now Brooklyn Net posted a story on Instagram of him watching Boston beat Philadelphia, complete with a glass of red wine in the foreground.

Simmons’ personal jab at the 76ers dates back to his bitter exit from the franchise.

Ben Simmons savage 💀 pic.twitter.com/h9wGSsOCE1

— LakeShowYo (@LakeShowYo) May 14, 2023

His Philly demise started in the 2021 playoffs when he famously passed up an open shot against Atlanta that turned Sixers fans and his own teammates against him.

76ers centre Joel Embiid declared Simmons’ decision to ignore an open dunk as the turning point in the game. A reporter asked 76ers coach Doc Rivers if Simmons could be a point guard on a championship team, to which Rivers responded: “I don’t even know how to answer that right now.”

This shade prompted Simmons to request a trade, despite having four years left on his multimillion-dollar contract.

Sadly, the process of exit Philadelphia took over a season as the two parties battled out in a bitter trade exit.

Ben Simmons in action against the Philadelphia 76ers earlier this year. Picture: Tim Nwachukwu / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA

Simmons was finally traded to Brooklyn in February 2022, but after sitting out and dealing with injuries he became a shadow of the player who at the hoops world at his feet after securing three NBA All-Star appearances.

The Melbourne-born guard is now on the mend following back surgery, but it appears nothing has changed at his ex-club Philadelphia.

The Sixers led their semi-final series against the Celtics 3-2, but lost consecutive games to crash out again.

Philadelphia big man and league MVP Joel Embiid believes his teammates need to aim up for the Sixers to take the next step.

“Me and James (Harden), we can’t win alone,” Embiid said post-game.

“That’s why basketball is played five-on-five. We need everybody to find ways to be better.”

Embiid might be right, but his Sixers can’t blame Ben Simmons this time.

Originally published as NBA playoffs 2023: Ben Simmons trolls Philladelphia 76ers after Boston Celtics loss