Ben Simmons gave an interview to ESPN reporter Nick Friedell, where he talked about going back to Philly, that airball video that went viral, and not ever really talking to Joel Embiid when they were teammates:

To this point — I’ve never been in an arena where the whole place is chanting “F— Ben Simmons!” [March 10 at 76ers]. What was that like?

Simmons: That’s when I didn’t play, right? When I was hurt. I don’t really know how I felt, because I don’t take it personally.

Are you looking forward to that game [against the 76ers on Nov. 22]?

Simmons: F—, I can’t wait to go there, yeah. But for me, everything’s an experience and a learning situation. So for me I’m able to learn something that I’ve never been through before. I’ve never been traded and played against a team that I got traded from. Kev has, Ky has, a lot of guys have, but I’ve never been in that situation so — you have to go through it. Ky went back to Boston, and he didn’t play well, but it’s a lot. We’re people, too. We want to go out there and prove everyone wrong.

If you read the whole article you can tell Ben still doesn’t think he did anything wrong during the end of his time in Philly. He doesn’t understand why narratives about him are formed the way they are. Or why he gets backlash on social media. There’s zero accountability and and there might even be less self awareness. At one point he compared his Giannis’ shooting troubles and it backfired:

What do you do when people are like, “Ben can’t shoot, or Ben’s not going to go to the line?”

Simmons: They’re going to say that regardless. Even if I hit a shot, what are they going to say? ‘I still can’t.’ F—, I can’t make everybody happy, you know? … That’s like saying can Giannis [Antetokounmpo] shoot? Can he?

Not in the beginning. But now [Giannis’ shot is] better.

Giannis is a two-time MVP whose jumper has consistently become more efficient over his career. That’s because he’s worked to extend his game beyond 15 feet and in doing so he’s seen his game grow. The problem with Ben Simmons is he’s okay staying stagnant. He’s comfortable. He doesn’t feel like he needs to add anything to his game because he’s content with what he’s already mastered.

If there’s anything juicy you want to pick out of the article it’s that him and Joel never really spoke when they were in Philly together:

While we’re on this topic — have you talked to Joel [Embiid] yet?

Simmons: I don’t talk to Jo. We never really spoke.

I guess that’s not surprising. How many people do you hang with outside of work? If you spent practice, plane rides, workouts, and more together you’d probably not speak outside the facility. It’s a job at the end of the day.


P.S. See you November 22nd:

Are you looking forward to that game [against the 76ers on Nov. 22]?

Simmons: F—, I can’t wait to go there, yeah.