Shaquille O’Neal, one of the most iconic figures in basketball history, has recently made headlines with his scathing criticism of Ben Simmons. In a tweet that has sparked widespread debate, Shaq questioned Simmons’ commitment and questioned his ability to handle adversity.
The High Expectations and Initial Hype
Shaq began by acknowledging the immense hype surrounding Ben Simmons when he first entered the league. Simmons, a former number one overall pick, was touted as the next big thing in basketball. His unique combination of size, athleticism, and playmaking ability drew comparisons to some of the game’s greats. However, as Shaq pointed out, this hype also brought immense pressure.
A Tweet read about Shaq’s comment on Ben Simmons which read,
“”Ben is sensitive right, he came in with a lot of hype… When he got exposed… When he didn’t want to shoot in Atlanta and he kept passing the ball, and everybody was jumping on him, he got exposed. Now the back thing, I let that go the first year, I’m not letting that go 3 years in a row. This is 2024, you’ve got shots, you’ve got pills, you’ve got treatment, I don’t want to hear that s—t. And I could tell when he came back and played, he’s afraid of what people are going to say about him. He’s still in shock mode.””
"Ben is sensitive right, he came in with a lot of hype… When he got exposed… When he didn’t want to shoot in Atlanta and he kept passing the ball, and everybody was jumping on him, he got exposed. Now the back thing, I let that go the first year, I’m not letting that go 3 years… pic.twitter.com/8mB1ZU6zpO
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPoints) September 19, 2024
Ben Simmons’ Atlanta Playoff Series: A Turning Point
One of the most significant moments in Simmons’ career was the 2021 playoff series against the Atlanta Hawks. Simmons’ reluctance to shoot, especially in crucial moments, became a focal point of criticism. Shaq emphasized how this series exposed Simmons’ weaknesses and led to a barrage of criticism from fans and analysts alike.
The Lingering Back Issues
Shaq also touched on Ben Simmons’ ongoing back problems, which have plagued him for several seasons. While acknowledging the legitimacy of these issues initially, Shaq expressed frustration over their persistence.
“Now the back thing, I let that go the first year, I’m not letting that go 3 years in a row. This is 2024, you’ve got shots, you’ve got pills, you’ve got treatment, I don’t want to hear that s—t.”
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