‘He has really struggled’: Ex-teammate’s harsh truth for ‘non-factor’ Ben Simmons

Basketball
Published 28.07.2023
‘He has really struggled’: Ex-teammate’s harsh truth for ‘non-factor’ Ben Simmons

A former teammate of Ben Simmons has branded the Australian basketballer a “non-factor” through the NBA Draft because the Brooklyn Nets works to restore his physique.

After the Nets snapped up Noah Clowney and Dariq Whitehead with picks 22 and 23 respectively of the NBA Draft on Friday AEST, broadcaster JJ Redick listed off a bunch of Brooklyn gamers as positives, however snubbed his former Philadelphia 76ers teammate.

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When referred to as out for neglecting to say Simmons, Redick responded: “I will discuss Ben Simmons when he’s back on the basketball court.

“If you think about the facts that they (the Nets) gave up James Harden … They were expecting Ben Simmons to play at an All Star, All-NBA level and, because of injuries and, I believe some lingering effects from that Atlanta series in terms of his mental approach, he has really struggled in Brooklyn and has been essentially a non-factor.

“It’s a matter of him just being on the court and being the player that he was early in his career in Philadelphia and then we can start talking about how that would impact Brooklyn going forward.”

After he was traded to Brooklyn final 12 months, Simmons has struggled to get better from again surgical procedure that stored him sidelined for many of the season.

The 26-year-old has expressed curiosity to symbolize Australia at this 12 months’s FIBA Basketball World Cup, which has inevitably been met with some scepticism.

Ben Simmons of the Brooklyn Nets. Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
Ben Simmons of the Brooklyn Nets. Photo by Elsa/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

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TALKING POINTS: ‘Countdown’ on for giant commerce name

‘AVERAGE SHOOTER’: Ex-star’s face says all of it

Earlier, French prodigy Victor Wembanyama was chosen by the San Antonio Spurs as the highest decide within the NBA draft.

The French star has the dimensions and energy to dominate defensively blended with the ball dealing with expertise and passing expertise of a guard, offering a singular package deal that has analysts calling him the very best prospect since LeBron James joined the NBA twenty years in the past.

Even although he knew this second was coming, Wembanyama was extremely emotional after formally having his title referred to as.

The ‘real’ draft, nonetheless, started with Charlotte and the No. 2 total decide because the Hornets determined to prioritise match over expertise by drafting Alabama ahead Brandon Miller.

Charlotte was genuinely “torn” on which prospect to tackle draft day based on reviews, with conferences held on Friday earlier than the Hornets finally settled on Miller over Scoot Henderson.

Victor Wembanyama poses with NBA commissioner Adam Silver. Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty ImagesSource: Getty Images

FULL NBA DRAFT ORDER

Round 1

1. Spurs — Victor Wembanyama, C, Metropolitans 92

2. Hornets — Brandon Miller, G, Alabama

3. Trail Blazers — Scoot Henderson, F, G League Ignite

4. Rockets — Amen Thompson, G, Overtime Elite

5. Pistons — Ausar Thompson, G/F, Overtime Elite

6. Magic — Anthony Black, G, Arkansas

7. Wizards (by way of Pacers) — Bilal Coulibaly, G, Metropolitans 92

8. Pacers (by way of Wizards) — Jarace Walker, F, Houston

9. Jazz — Taylor Hendricks, F, UCF

10. Thunder (by way of Mavericks) — Cason Wallace, G, Kentucky

11. Magic (by way of Bulls) — Jett Howard, F, Michigan

12. Mavericks (by way of Thunder) — Dereck Lively, C, Duke

13. Raptors — Gradey Dick, G, Kansas

14. Pelicans — Jordan Hawkins, G, UConn

15. Hawks — Kobe Bufkin, G, Michigan

16. Jazz (by way of Timberwolves) — Keyonte George, G, Baylor

17. Lakers — Jalen Hood-Schifino, G, Indiana

18. Heat — Jaime Jaquez Jr., F, UCLA

19. Warriors — Brandin Podziemski, G, Santa Clara

20. Rockets (by way of Clippers) — Cam Whitmore, F, Villanova

21. Nets (by way of Suns) — Noah Clowney, F/C, Alabama

22. Nets — Dariq Whitehead, F, Duke

23. Trail Blazers (by way of Knicks) — Kris Murray, F, Iowa

24. Mavericks (by way of Kings) — Olivier-Maxence Prosper, F, Marquette

25. Pistons (by way of Celtics) — Marcus Sasser, G, Houston

26. Pacers (by way of Cavaliers) — Ben Sheppard, F, Belmont

27. Hornets (by way of Nuggets) — Nick Smith Jr., G, Arkansas

28. Jazz (by way of 76ers) — Brice Sensabaugh, G/F, Ohio State

29. Nuggets (by way of Pacers) — Julian Strawther, F, Gonzaga

30. Clippers (by way of Bucks) — Kobe Brown, F, Missouri

Round 2

31. Hornets (by way of Celtics) — James Nnaji, C, Nigeria

32. Nuggets (by way of Pacers) — Jalen Pickett, PG, Penn State

33. Timberwolves (by way of Spurs) — Leonard Miller

34. Kings (by way of Celtics) — Colby Jones, SG, Xavier

35. Bulls (by way of Wizards) — Julian Phillips, SF, Tennessee

36. Bucks (by way of Magic) — Andre Jackson Jr., SG, UConn

37. Nuggets (by way of Thunder) — Hunter Tyson, SF, Clemson

38. Kings (by way of Pacers) — Jordan Walsh, SF, Arkansas

39. Hawks (by way of Celtics) — Mouhamed Gueye, PF, Washington State

40. Lakers (by way of Nuggets) — Maxwell Lewis, SF, Pepperdine

41. Hornets (by way of Thunder) — Amari Bailey, PG, UCLA

42. Wizards (by way of Bulls) — Tristan Vukcevic, PF, Serbia

43. Trail Blazers (by way of Hawks) — Rayan Rupert, SG, France

44. Spurs (by way of Raptors) — Sidy Cissoko, G, G League Ignite

45. Grizzlies (by way of Timberwolves) — GG Jackson, F, South Carolina

46. Hawks (by way of Pelicans) — Seth Lundy, F, Penn State

47. Pacers (by way of Lakers) — Mojave King, SG, G League Ignite

48. Clippers — Jordan Miller, SF, Miami

49. Cavaliers (by way of Warriors) — Emoni Bates, SG, Eastern Michigan

50. Thunder (by way of Heat) — Keyontae Johnson, SF, Kansas State

51. Nets — Jalen Wilson, PF, Kansas

52. Suns — Toumani Camara, PF, Dayton

53. Timberwolves (by way of Knicks) — Jaylen Clark, SG, UCLA

54. Kings — Jalen Slawson, PF, Furman

55. Pacers (by way of Cavaliers) — Isaiah Wong, G, Miami

56. Grizzlies — Tarik Biberovic, F, Fenerbache

57. Warriors (by way of Wizards) — Trayce Jackson-Davis, F, Indiana

58. Bucks — Chris Livington, G, Kentucky

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