Shaquille O’Neal takes brutal shot at Nets’ Ben Simmons

Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons.

It’s been a brutal few years for Brooklyn Nets guard-forward Ben Simmons. Injuries have resulted in the 27-year-old essentially having to press pause on his once-promising NBA career, as he’s played just 57 games over the past three seasons.

After dealing with back issues that plagued him since missing the entire 2021-22 season (while also holding out from the Philadelphia 76ers), he’s been unable to stay on the floor since joining the Nets. Simmons played 42 games for the team in 2022-23 and just 15 this year before being shut down.

But even with injuries remaining constant, it hasn’t stopped many fans and analysts from firing takes about Simmons. The latest name to take a shot at the three-time All-Star is former Los Angeles Lakers great and NBA Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal. When asked by Adam Lefkoe on “The Big Podcast” with Shaq which NBA players he’d go watch because he finds them entertaining, O’Neal took a dig at Simmons.

“Ben Simmons, because I would wanna learn how you can make $80 million and play 55 games. Teach me. Teach me how you can f—ing play 55 games in three seasons and get $30 million, $40 million and get another $40 million just by saying your back hurts. Get some f—ing icy hot, man up,” O’Neal said.

Simmons recently underwent his second back surgery in three years. He’s expected to make a full recovery in time for training camp next season. Through 15 games this year, Simmons averaged 6.1 points, 7.9 rebounds and 5.7 assists over 23.9 minutes per game. He has one year remaining on the five-year, $177 million deal signed initially with the 76ers and is slated to be an unrestricted free agent after the 2024-25 NBA season.

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