Receiving criticism is nothing new for Philadelphia 76ers No. 1 pick Ben Simmons, but the hate continues to mount nearly a decade later.
NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal never minces words when expressing his hatred for certain contemporary players, particularly three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert. When Complex asked O’Neal to name his WOAT (worst player of all time), he quickly responded with Gobert, followed by a critique of the former Sixers guard.
“Ben Simmons is another bum, because you know why? I’ll tell you why. If you sign a contract for $250, show me $250,” O’Neal said. “There’s a reason why I walk funny and why I can’t turn my neck because I played for my $120, so you got guys like him who [expletive] the system over there makes all this money and they can’t [expletive] play, so I don’t respect guys like that.
Although O’Neal is exaggerating Simmons’ contract a bit, Sixers management paid him a five-year deal. Maximum contract extension of $170 million in 2019He is about to do around $40 million with the Brooklyn Nets this season.
“You know, every time I make these comments, people think I hate, but it’s facts,” O’Neal said. “You have teachers, firefighters, doctors who have real jobs and don’t get paid. [expletive].”
At 28, Simmons still has time to prove the many skeptics wrong, but the odds are far from being in his favor.
MORE 76ERS NEWS
76ers superstar slams Anthony Edwards for disrespectful comments
Former 76ers center takes bold stance on 2024 U.S. team
