The playoff picture around the NBA has shifted dramatically this season. Discussions about player value and locker-room influence have dominated talk shows and analysts’ opinions. No player has been more central than the 7-foot playmaker whose career has become one of the most debated in the league: Ben Simmons.
It’s been a rough stretch for the 29-year-old former All-Star, whose production and role have fluctuated after a high-profile years-long absence and subsequent trade from Philadelphia to Brooklyn. Once lauded for his unique blend of defense and playmaking, Simmons’ game has been criticized for being incomplete, lacking scoring aggression. Those questions have erupted in one of the most blistering media rants of the season.
Stephen A. Smith Goes Nuclear On Ben Simmons
ESPN’s First Take star Stephen A. Smith unloaded on Ben Simmons in a way that’s rare even for the outspoken commentator. With Simmons seemingly unable to silence critics this season, Smith didn’t pull punches, instead turning up the volume and the language. According to social clips circulating online, Smith argued outright that Simmons hasn’t just underperformed, but that his presence in the league equates to a kind of theft.
“As long as First Take is in existence, Ben Simmons will catch strays. I’m not apologizing to a damn soul. There is no bigger thief in the history of the NBA than that man. If Ben Simmons runs near a basketball arena, he should be arrested.”
Stephen A Smith GOES OFF of Ben Simmons 😳
“As long as First Take is in existence, Ben Simmons will catch strays. I’m not apologizing to a damn soul. There is no bigger thief in the history of the NBA than that man. If Ben Simmons runs near a basketball arena, he should be… pic.twitter.com/vtvik4imXb
— NBA Courtside (@NBA__Courtside) February 17, 2026
Comments widely shared on X and other platforms illustrate how heated the discussion over Simmons’ contributions versus his contract has become. The “thief” comment, while hyperbolic, speaks to a growing sentiment among some analysts and fans that Simmons has failed to justify the value associated with his status as a former No. 1 pick.
This rant from one of the loudest voices in sports media didn’t emerge in a vacuum. Simmons has battled injuries and critics since his Sixers days, has declined statistically, and has struggled to regain his all-star form after long layoffs and back nerve issues. That context has fueled sharper takes, and Smith’s was among the sharpest yet.
He didn’t just critique performance but called it severe underachievement. That’s the essence of why this rant has generated shock and debate and looms large in Simmons’ ongoing media narrative.
