There is a chance that Ben Simmons will be out of the NBA this season as he remains unsigned. His current status in the league is a total opposite of where he was when he joined the Philadelphia 76ers straight from college as a five-star recruit.
Credit: AP Photo
Simmons was among the most exciting in late 2010s and even received comparisons to Los Angeles Lakers star Lebron James for his high leaping ability, huge frame, and top notch playmaking. It is an honor to get compared to King James who is in the conversation of Greatest of All Time.
However, for Patrick Beverley, it did not help in Simmons’ case. The 2017 All Time Defensive Team member believes getting compared to Lebron hurt the 2018 Rookie of the Year’s career.
“When Ben Simmons first came out it was LeBron James comparisons. He had so much hype and his demeanor was so chill that it was like you respected it more,” Beverley said in his own podcast.
“His dunks made it—I wouldn’t say intimidating—but he made [players] second-think to jump or not. Then he got hurt, and like, he didn’t want to dunk anymore.”
Is Philly to blame for the fall off of Ben Simmons? pic.twitter.com/w9DWg5SbCf
— Pat Bev Pod (@PatBevPod) September 11, 2025
Ben Simmons should have been drafted by the Hornets
Simmons was an All-Star from 2019 to 2021 but everything took a wrong turn when he got hurt and lost confidence.
It did not help, too, that he was able to widen his game by ignoring outside shots. Beverley thinks it is not entirely his fault. He believes him landing with the Sixers is where it all started and that it would be a different story now if only he was drafted by another team.
This is because of the pressure he faced from the Sixers fans.
“If he would’ve went to another team. And you know Philly fans, I [expletive] love Philly fans, but if you ain’t doing what you need to do for Philly, they’re going to let your [expletive] know in a heartbeat,” Beverley continued.
“If he would’ve went to the [Charlotte Hornets] to start without all of the harsh backlash that he got from fans and media and all that, he probably would’ve had a three!”
Simmons last played for the Los Angeles Clippers and averaged just 2.9 points in 17 games.
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