One Brooklyn Nets player who will be on nearly every NBA fan's radar during the 2024-25 season is rising seventh-year forward Ben Simmons. Simmons was once an All-Star, All-Defensive-caliber player, and while he still retains incredible potential, injuries have hampered his production. The former LSU Tiger has had plenty of criticism come his way for his fall off, and NBA legend Shaquille O'Neal did not hold back when expressing his opinion on Simmons.
For context, Ben Simmons signed a five-year, $177 million contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers during the summer of 2019. However, he played fewer games in his next seasons than in previous campaigns. Simmons appeared in 57 and 58 games during the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons (compared to 81 and 79 during the 2017-18 and 2018-19 seasons).
Once the Sixers traded Simmons to the Nets, his availability woes continued. Back injuries limited him to just 57 games during his first two years in Brooklyn. In addition, his points per game average decreased from a double-digit value to a mid-single-digit value (14.3 points or greater with Philly to 6.9 or less with Brooklyn).
Simmons' drop in production and time on the court have frustrated fans, analysts, and former players.
Shaq explains his Simmons his harsh criticism for Simmons
When asked who the worst NBA Player of all time is in a sit-down with Complex, Shaq's answer was Rudy Gobert. However, the interviewer jokingly asked the Lakers legend if Ben Simmons was worse, and Shaq brutally called Simmons out, per a video from Complex's X (formerly Twitter) page:
"Ben Simmons is another bum. I'm going to tell you why. If you sign a contract for 250, show me 250. There's a reason why I walk funny and why I can't turn my neck and why I can't do it, because I played for my 120. You got guys like him making all this money and they f**** the system over because they can't play. So I don't respect guys like that," O'Neal explained.
Shaq said his comments were not meant to be "hating" comments. He defined them as "facts."
Simmons is entering a crucial year with the Nets and must answer some pressing questions about his health and performance. The 2024-25 season is the last year of the contract he signed with the Sixers. Simmons may have had some missteps, but he has the opportunity to turn things around, and the borough will be behind him cheering for him and supporting him as he helps this young Nets team grow.