Ben Simmons shredded as Nets’ Big Three called ‘biggest failure in NBA history’

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But with the Nets’ “Big Three” right down to Ben Simmons after Durant and Kyrie Irving have been traded by way of the week, the Aussie got here from the bench, scoring eight factors, eight rebounds and 4 assists in 20 minutes however was -12 whereas on the ground.

It was his second sport again from a knee harm which has impacted his minutes.

Coming only a day after Durant’s exit from New York for Phoenix, followers have been nonetheless able to pile on the three-time All-Star.

Simmons did give them some fodder nevertheless, taking a heave from the brand on the finish of the third quarter that hardly flicked the underside of the web.

It was simply the second three level try he has taken all 12 months.

Nets reporter for SNYtv Ian Begley stated there had been discussions round Simmons throughout the commerce interval and “spoke w/a few teams” concerning the Aussie.

Simmons’ commerce worth is seemingly subsequent to zero together with his enormous wage which incorporates $US35.4m ($A51.1m) this 12 months, $US37.9m ($A54.7m) subsequent 12 months and $US40.3m ($A58.1m) in 2024-25 not matching his output on the court docket.

A commerce had been revealed on Friday from earlier than the season that might have seen Simmons despatched to the Utah, then-Jazz star Donovan Mitchell to the Heat and Miami’s Bam Adebayo to the Nets.

Mitchell was ultimately traded to Cleveland.

But now it appears the Nets are caught with Simmons, and followers aren’t too blissful.

Radio discuss present host Henry Lake tweeted: “Ben Simmons is only 26 years old, but it feels like he won’t have a long career. I hope that I’m wrong but he just seems like a player with all the talent in the world who isn’t in love with basketball.”

Ex-Reuters reporter Vincent Lee posted: “Third quarter ending with Ben Simmons airball 3 point attempt feels poetic”.

KTLA reporter Travis Schlepp commented: “BREAKING: Ben Simmons has attempted a three. It was a heave to beat the clock, but w/e”.

But it was far from the only criticism of the Nets’ Big Three era, with Stephen A. Smith calling it the “biggest failure in NBA history”.

Speaking on ESPN’s First Take, Smith didn’t hold back.

“I say yes,” Smith said when asked if they were the league’s greatest failure. “It’s not because they spent three-and-a-half years there and only got one playoff series win, it’s because they made promises they didn’t keep, because dysfunctionality raked through that franchise like a virus.”

“It contaminated the borough of Brooklyn, New York, it disappointed them and left them hanging.

“And even though the players themselves end up going elsewhere, competing for championships, making money along the way, they short-changed the fanbase.”

Smith added he believed Durant tried his best at the franchise and that he “never cheated the game”.

Basketball reporter Jo Healy additionally stated Simmons’ profession is now at a crossroads.

“(Simmons) is in limbo,” Healy stated on SEN Breakfast.

“It’s been crazy with the (NBA) trade deadline. I’ve been on my phone getting these Woj (Basketball reporter Adrian Wojnarowski) bombs constantly.

“There was a point where Kyrie left and (the Nets) were probably not in a bad place.

“KD (Durant) is huge for them. It’s going to take the Nets quite a while to regroup and regather.

“I hope for Ben’s sake that it means more opportunity and he really just needs to find himself in a palace where he is supported and be right mentally.

“We just want to see him playing and whether it’s on a winning team or not, it doesn’t really matter for the rest of the season.

“It’s just about him playing and moving forward.”