NBA media days this week, which means we’re asking ourselves for the third-straight season if the Ben Simmons revenge tour is upon us:

Ben’s not wrong, but he also hasn’t been healthy since we were wearing COVID masks to the Wells Fargo Center.

Last season, he played 15 games in which he averaged 6.1 points, 5.7 assists, and 5.9 rebounds. He shot 58.1% from two and there’s a Taylor Swift-sized blank space on his three-point percentage because he did not attempt a three. The year prior, he played 42 Nets games, averaged 6.9 points/6.1 assists/5.3 rebounds, and was 57.1% from the floor. He didn’t play in 2021-2022 due to “holdout/back injury” and has appeared in 57 NBA games since the Hawks eliminated the Sixers almost three seasons ago.

The thing with Ben is that even if he does get healthy and play a full season, then what? He hits the same ceiling he hit in 2021?

You’re talking about a talented defender and facilitator who can’t/won’t shoot beyond eight feet and is a career 58.9% from the foul line. That’s why the Ben Simmons revenge tour has always been a bit of a laugher, because even when he was 22 years old and flying up and down the floor he was a half court liability and occupied the dunker spot like the protesters occupied Wall Street. There wasn’t anywhere else for him to go, because he was a non-shooting ball handler who could only execute a limited package of screens and short rolls or DHOs whether playing for Brett Brown or Doc Rivers. One of his last actions for the Sixers was passing up a wide-open dunk in Game 7 of a winnable playoff series. And when you look at the offseason videos going around, he’s still spinning the ball off his left hand with that janky-looking jump shot.


Some fans say they feel bad for Ben at this point, but the guy forced his way out. He showed up at practice with his cell phone in his pocket and half-heartedly went through the motions while not giving one iota of a shit about the team. So you don’t have to feel bad for the guy. This is what he wanted. He wanted out. If he can somehow figure it out and help the Nets compete for the 12th spot in the East, that’s great. But recent history says he’ll probably be playing Call of Duty come February.