Ben Simmons knows that he's going to get criticized wherever he goes. He knows that the type of ire he faces comes with being one of the best players in the game.
When asked how he blocks out all the noise that seems to find him, the former All- Star had to laugh.
Simmons said that it finds him all the time. It does not stop. I'm sick of it sometimes, but then I realize I'm Ben Simmons. Being Ben Simmons right now is the reason for it.
There was a video of me at the park the other day. 10 guys airballed a lot. People will find a single clip and try to make it sound like Ben can't do it. You think I'm just throwing the ball around? It isn't true. You have to have tough skin, but I can't take everything personally. Social media is what it is.
Simmons requested a trade from the 76ers and did not play last season. He was dealt to the Nets just before the trade deadline but never played a game. Simmons has been criticized in the past for his play with the 76ers and his request to get out of Philadelphia, but that has been amplified since he has been out of the NBA for almost a year.
Simmons has a simple explanation for why he gets so much backlash from fans.
Simmons said that people knew what he could do. I think that is what it is. I don't think people would be as focused on me if I wasn't capable of doing certain things. I like it because it motivates me. It's a lot for anyone to deal with that, but I think of it as a respect thing.
If that wasn't the case, I wouldn't have done it. You cannot say anything if I play a great game. It is a part of the thing. It's cool because they've been through different things in their careers and they can relate to each other. I don't care what it's called.
Simmons specifically praised the way that both Durant and Irving have treated him since arriving in Brooklyn, but it was Irving who gave Simmons some advice on handling the latest viral video.
Irving said that he's no longer a child on the internet. When technology hit the boom and we didn't expect social media to take over the entire platform, I think you can appreciate that. It is a one-place shop where you can take your eyes off the computer screen and focus on what's in front of you. The nerds can appreciate how much that changes us all.
I don't want to disrespect his upbringing, but I don't know if there's a space where there's a melting pot full of diversity and races talking about issues. It's just one world where you can speak your mind. Not every country has the same freedom so I told him to be able to deal with it. You need to be able to see it.
Simmons, who won the shooting game, knockout, against many of his teammates at the same Sunday practice for fans, said that he had discussions with Irving about the airball video.
Simmons said that he and Ky talked about it before practice. He asked why everybody was on our heads. It's with it. We're interesting people. You don't care about some guys.
Irving thinks it's his job as a leader of the team to support Simmons when he can, but also allow him the space to deal with things as he sees fit.
Humanizing each other's lives is one of the strengths of the human community. He's going to respond in his own way. People with integrity deal with things their way and we have to honor that. As a leader, I feel like it's my responsibility to protect him, but I also know he has to deal with his own issues.
Don't be there for him when he needs help. It is more difficult than done. It's very cheap to get help. It's not a fee. You can give it to anyone.
Simmons feels like he has the support of the Nets that he needs in order to succeed after being away for so long.
Simmons agreed. It's up to me to go out there and do my job now that I have the support of the organization. They have been great to me. O' Neale has been great. It feels right. It's normal to be here and work. We need to put that work in and make chemistry.
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