Ben Simmons Explains Why Things Fell Apart In Philly

In this clip, Ben talks about his final months with Doc Rivers, Joel Embiid and The Philadelphia 76ers, his mental health struggles and why he ultimately decided to hold out.
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[@not.an.alt.account]

JJ: Let's talk about the Hawks series (Co-Host starts refilling Ben's wine glass) 😂

[@jbtreshawn]

😂😂😂 nah you catching that too far bro

[@OtisKopp]

That's pretty funny, I didn't catch that at first.

[@qiji9488]

lol, you Hawkeye

[@christianstokes4111]

LMFAO this needs waaay more likes!😂😂

[@camplo195]

LMAO

[@quintelcoles5476]

I’m actually glad Ben had the chance to get his side out to the world. Salute JJ💯

[@samanmoheban5172]

You mean lies?

[@wojciechbalcerzak7395]

I guess at the time people still weren't sure how much ben simmons fault was all this, they do now.

[@bananabonzai]

JJ always being a standup guy and having the relationships to even get Ben Simmons to interview with him on a topic ESPN would sacrifice babies for

[@ilphi08]

To be fair, they were teammates for 2 years

[@DaGoook]

They would rip open hearts Aztec style to land this.

[@nicholasrose4448]

@@DaGoook LOOOL this comment though.

[@BillThe3rd]

Funniest comment idc who else has more likes😂😂

[@otisyoungblood]

Yet he throwing softballs cause he player bias

[@yukoncorneliusjr8273]

“ I don’t give a f*ck about the money”….🧢🧢🧢 he literally tried to get that money back😂

[@kuruptzZz]

That's money he earned though. He was obviously physically injured on top of his mental issues, seeing as how he needed surgery later. Injured players still get paid

[@bobbybolan5516]

Are you above shenanigans for 20 mil I’m not

[@bendover3653]

It's not about the money, it's the principal. Why should he let the billionaire owners take his money?

[@moondevilsaito]

@@bendover3653 So you should get paid for a job that you didn't do??

[@b12and3n9000]

@@bendover3653 they aren’t taking money he literally did not work lol

[@RazorTooths]

I'm super confused on how to feel with Ben tbh. On one hand the mental side of things it's super tough, it's understandable if he had to take a step away from it all to recalibrate, but on the other hand, dude didn't really bask himself in a glowing light with the missing practices, missing an entire season with unclear physical problems, all the stuff. Barkley said it perfectly also when he said that he gets paid millions to just be on the court (which he hasn't done a lot recently) and to improve as a basketball player (which he has barely done). Embiid got booed, Harden got booed, but they still took in on the chin, Ben ducked and swayed away.

[@jaimeb5796]

Yea harden gotta take it on the chin bc he’s ran from 2 others franchises now and wouldn’t look great if he did it again

[@deadarmd]

The thing with Simmons I feel for him was he did a lot and at the very end all that was suddenly forgotten like it never mattered.

[@Rerpesentz]

Ben Simmons will play great with KD and Kyrie and everyone will forgive em

[@diegosanchez-ji9dv]

Man you need to understand how sever mental health is my dude. We don’t know what’s going on his head constantly every day. We speak from our perspective because it’s what we understand. We don’t even play basketball!!!!! We don’t belong in that world nor do we know how it really works!!! Just how Ben doesn’t know you we don’t know BEN!!! Next time bro think about all the downbad moments you’ve had, and then think if u wanna tell another downbad man what to do or what you think is right!. You wouldn’t dare speak those words in person, you would ask for a pic and be starstruck. Have a good day!

[@christopherlee4181]

If doc wouldn't of thrown him under the bus..... He would've been cool.... That was low

[@HieuBris]

If you’ve truly fought with depression, anxiety, or any mental disorder you should be able to feel for Ben because you can tell from the way he acted to how he spoke and little things, it’s someone still recovering from it.

[@c.h.5510]

Just because he deals with an issue, doesn't mean he can kidnap the entire franchise. With most anxieties, I'm sure his therapist told him, it's not a fight, or battle .. it's a moment in time, that will absolutely "pass"... Shouts to people suffering💯

[@trevorburton3290]

You don't conquer these mental struggles by running away from responsibility, acting entitled, and feeling sorry for yourself. Any therapist will tell you this, and he has a budget that should afford the best mental support money can buy. There's nothing wrong with having mental problems but his whole job was out on hold for him to work through it and get back to what he needed to do. That's a luxury that millions upon millions of people would never have, and it feels like he used it as an excuse to get traded so he didn't have to face his problems head on.

[@PvtShiznit]

@@c.h.5510 a therapist will also tell you that going back to the same harmful environment that caused you to have a mental break will on exasperate your issues and cause regression. Neither side is perfect.

[@_VISION.]

@@c.h.5510 hopefully one day things get so bad for you that you'll want to see the afterlife sooner rather than later

[@prestongreenbay6336]

When it comes to business and millions nobody got time for anxiety....

[@23ofSeptember]

I remember dealing with this mental stuff when I played baseball in high school. I had some pretty horrible coaches and I wasn't playing very much. I actually began hoping that I wouldn't be put into play because I never felt comfortable. I had coaches that would yell and scream if you made a mistake. I was a good player too, but gradually got less and less playing time after an injury. I quit playing ball for a couple years, worked out, gained 20-30 pounds. Started playing again at age 19, but many of the same guys (and their dads) were still around. Never felt comfortable around that same group.

[@DukeBlueDevilFan08]

I’m sorry you had to experience that dude. You’re not alone. My father played college hoops and everyone at school wanted me to be just like him. I never wanted to be. My soph/Junior yr varsity coach was just like your coach, except I never quit and he ended up getting fired. Both of our former coaches are not leaders. Remember that

[@joyrdrick7643]

U soft as hell jus like Ben every coach yell and scream

[@immafatazn]

yo same.. in high school i quit playing ball for a few years and then developed an unhealthy relationship with food to cope with my mental health issues. i gained like 40 pounds in one year and literally didn’t touch a basketball again until i started college. started working out, lost all the weight, got in really good shape, and finally started hooping again. i still struggle with mental health issues today, but it’s manageable, so i can understand where ben is coming from. on days when i’m not really myself, it really affects how i play. i’m usually a pretty good shooter, but everything will be bricks because i can’t get out of my head. and then i’ll also be too passive and not attack the basket because i’m too worried i’ll turn it over or force a bad shot

[@Christhedon96]

You can always play It for fun remember that my guy. Don’t let any one still your joy for the game.

[@Siddhant_30]

People don't really realise how important the mental side of things are and as someone who went through something similar i feel for u bruv hope ur doing well now

[@Mark-ky8zx]

He’s still arrogant and playing the victim. Completely denying accountability.

[@redman6790]

100% 76ers fans see this guy isn’t invested in winning and basketball.

[@Arruu23]

@@redman6790 Is the 76ers winning now

[@chrisbrown8748]

@@Arruu23 Are you mentally challenged?

[@hueyfreeman5509]

Facts

[@drumiller4692]

@@Arruu23 more than the nets and ben lmao

[@philly289]

How did Embiid throw him under the bus when Embiid literally blamed himself and the whole team in the same speech.

[@officialthomasjames]

Facts. Of course JJ is gonna ride the media narrative, he’s one of those sheep now.

[@williefaulker]

They never mentioned that part when they criticize Joel

[@not.an.alt.account]

He's trying to appeal to Ben's reality 😂

[@dominiquebrown2890]

@@officialthomasjames he is one of the media sheep. He's all for himself and his bottom line

[@williefaulker]

@@officialthomasjames I love jj, as a fan of his when he played on the sixers and with his podcast it's definitely dope but I've noticed that too he's way too player friendly . Also he was literally in Philly during the Ben Simmons era, he should know that a lot of the fans actually were really patient with him until he passed up the dunk

[@ScoobiieDoobiie]

“my biggest priority was getting on the court”….. 2 years laterrrr still ain’t suit up ☹️

[@redman6790]

Yeah… he definitely wasn’t talking about basketball court. He was after the $£¥€€$$€¥¥£££&

[@redman6790]

Yeah… he definitely wasn’t talking about basketball court. He was after the $$$

[@vanescenze304]

he's fake af damn

[@Sonnel_James]

trust the process lol

[@umbrellaman08]

But he said he’s not about the money. Lol

[@brob2234]

He didn’t have an issue asking for millions of dollars back

[@randellito]

Facts … this team supported him for years, built the team around him Jo had to Turn into a 3pt shooter 🤣 this guy is delusional

[@phillyp2330]

Tbf I would too if I could

[@j.s3300]

Why would he?

[@jaimeb5796]

I’d try to get my money back too if my character was being smeared publicly for so long the way the sixers did for months

[@andrebritten]

Correct it's the money owed to him

[@bke8073]

“The turning point was when we had an open shot and we made 1 free throw and missed the other and they came down and scored and didn’t get a good possession and then trae came down and scored and we got the ball back and I turned the ball over. I thought that was the turning point.”- Joel Embiid But yeah he “threw him under the bus” lmfao

[@vanescenze304]

this comment needs more likes. embiid held himself responsible too but no one wants to talk abt it.

[@angellettie]

@@vanescenze304 u can hold urself responsible and also drag others down the two are not mutually exclusive lol

[@lilbottle9709]

2 things can be true

[@battlersparadise6643]

Facts but Ben still felt shaded bc if he put the whole blame on himself he wouldn’t have worded it that way.

[@vanescenze304]

​@@angellettie stop it lmao, look at your choice of words. they didnt drag him down, they held him accountable. he had a huge responsibility but he didn't deliver. if you look at the bigger picture, the coaching was bad, but ben barely produced on offense the entire series.

[@brian092393]

Full disclosure, I am a Sixers fan. JJ is Simmons’ friend so I don’t think he asked him the tough questions (probably why Ben agreed to the interview). Simmons leaves out that he used every excuse in the book before mental health to not play. Anyone remember he said it was back issues and then after that didn’t work, he said it was mental health? Also, he said the money was not important to him. Simmons has always been about the money, it’s all he has cared about. If he didn’t care about the money, why did he go to arbitration to get money back for games he refused to play for the Sixers? He didn’t do his job and still received settlement money from the Sixers. No one can know for sure but there’s a reason why most people felt he lied about mental health. There’s a reason why he hasn’t improved as a basketball player offensively in 5 years. It sounds to me that Ben still has the same mindset and he hasn’t changed. I don’t wish anything negative on the man but I do not think he is being completely genuine in this interview.

[@555crooked]

I hear you but what you’re saying is the Sixers narrative.If I am correct didn’t the Nets finally figured out that he had a hernia and needed surgery after all the drama?

[@HalConick]

I believe he’s being genuine but not fully honest. Basically, PR mode. That Doc Rivers practice story does sound like Doc. He and Ben seemed like the worst possible fit. I doubt the situation blows up with a different coach.

[@TheDarkbluerock]

You have a fair point, but it's often hard to come out right away and say "I have depression" People are often ashamed to admit to mental health issues and will use every other possible excuse. Not saying that's how it was for him, just that it's a possibility.

[@bdukes8075]

He did have back issues are you forgetting he had surgery

[@jaimeb5796]

I think that if my employer is publicly smearing my image and messing with me by fining me over anything, I’d do anything to get something back in return. You can’t just expect somebody to take all this negativity and be the bigger person when the franchise is just as wrong.

[@deejayconner1760]

The fact that JJ is not holding him accountable for any of his actions is sad and ruins the tone of this interview

[@redman6790]

That’s the reality of old media vs new media. This interview would not happen if it was harsh interrogations

[@kevenrowe2958]

@@redman6790 facts

[@jordanb.4514]

his job is to get information & conduct an interview, not to pressure him & tell him why he was wrong

[@deejayconner1760]

@@redman6790 I’m not saying interrogate him but don’t let him sit there and blatantly lie on multiple occasions

[@jerimayavondristen9955]

Ben probably wouldn't have come on if he though JJ wasn't going to coddle his ego lol. Must have had some kind of agreement ahead of this interview.

[@Will-ik4bk]

That pause when JJ asked him why he came back for two days after saying it wasn't about the money is a dead giveaway.

[@gators9570]

“Doing the right thing” lmao more like doing the bare minimum

[@c.h.5510]

He has to live... he's worth what he's worth

[@Biggiiful]

@c.h.5510. He can live the rest of his life without working on a fraction of what he has already made. He's literally NOT worth what he's still being paid, because he doesn't even play.

[@groundtrader173]

My take on whole situation is this: Ben Simmons and Embiid never get along. They were friends but not true friends. More like Kobe and Shaq (Shaq left Lakers as a result). When Doc Rivers came in, Embiid became the focal point of Sixers' offense. Under Brett Brown, Ben had more comfortable role. Where him and Embiid were the main focus of the offense. Doc empowered Embiid more. That decision didnt sit well with Ben. Also, Daryl Morey made situation worse by entertain the idea of trading Ben Simmons for James Harden while he was still with Rockets. As JJ and Ben described, everything fell a part in Hawks series.

[@redman6790]

So Ben, a grown 25 yr old man, has to be cuddled to be comfortable? Smh soft lightskin

[@datboyrell2849]

@@redman6790 definitely bsd take by you it was happening with kobe and shaq u saying they soft too

[@bigbearkat2010]

Given Ben's tendency to shy away from pressure, making Joel the focal point should've been a good thing for him.

[@goldenstateswarriorsbandwa4842]

Kobe and shaq weren’t friends either even Kobe confirmed that

[@shaqlester966]

@@redman6790 so joel embiid a 28 year old grown man has not been coddled the entire time? U kidding me bro joel is the golden child. And all this comment is saying is Brett brown ran a system that tried to focus on both joel embiid and Ben he was empowered to play his game . Doc came in n made the system revolve around joel. N that's a fact that's why there was a dip in shot attempts for ben just like when James came he even shot less then in Brooklyn because the system is a slower pace and goes through joel along with having other pieces who need to get Goin. Ben shot attempts fell by 5 from Brett to Doc. Doc empowered his playmaker and defense he thought that would win them a chip. Also dude is right cuz from being dangled for harden the first time , everyone blaming turning they backs on him after the hawks series , to ultimately Morey again holding out for harden ultimately proves when the front office n coaching staff changed it was clear he was not apart of the future but ultimately they wanted it to go this way so they could spin it all on him

[@WhiteBuddha22]

“It’s not about the money, it’s about peace of mind.” Didnt this dude sue or do something after he got traded to get the money the 76ers rightfully withheld?

[@julianh.5372]

....because it was wrongfully taken from him. Once he was in the mental space to be able to address it, he addressed it. Why don't you people have grace? Yall stay pocket watching and critiquing everyone else's business though.

[@vanescenze304]

@@julianh.5372 how was it wrongfully taken from him tho? also the sixers team doctors tried to help and he refused. it was a lot of stories given by his camp abt why couldnt play. no one pocket watching bruh, he ruined his own credibility. grow up.

[@julianh.5372]

@@vanescenze304 Smh. My friend, please practice grace.

[@kobeb365]

@@julianh.5372 if you don’t show up to work, they won’t pay you. I appreciate you giving grace but you also have to be realistic about the situation. No business will pay someone for literally not showing up to work. Especially not when it’s 20+ million dollars. Again, I appreciate you giving grace but be realistic about the situation.

[@Nostalish]

I like the fact that we get those interviews about players. It helps us connect to players. We need that perspective! Thank you JJ!

[@chasebingaman]

"Threw him under the bus" Jj bro Joel put blame on everyone. Yes Ben took way too much blame, but he himself lost that series by having a terrible series and by passing when he had an open dunk because he was scared to shoot FTs

[@bigbearkat2010]

There was also that he avoided taking shots as much as possible in the 4th quarter even before this. That pass was just a microcosm of how he played the whole series.

[@vanescenze304]

@@bigbearkat2010 yuppp, there was that stat sheet on twitter where he barely shot in the 4th quarter the entire series. lack of production...

[@angellettie]

ur a philly fan bro ur always gonna be biased but the truth is ur own organization was the deciding factor in ben not wanting to be there😂

[@williefaulker]

@@bigbearkat2010 people seem to have revisionist history when it comes to Philly sports

[@williefaulker]

@@angellettie and why did the organization get fed up with Ben?

[@mmafan2223]

Props to JJ to bring us sports fans this exclusive.

[@endangeredspecies8441]

My little sister could’ve gave a better interview.

[@knowledgeispower9724]

@@endangeredspecies8441 😂😂

[@randellito]

Man please they had his back dealing with his BS and lack of wanting to get better for years … the one time they actually got pissed at him he did this … get outta here

[@brucejenner3318]

Sounds like you have a crush on him

[@randellito]

@@brucejenner3318 pause on the pork Jen

[@NoGutsNoGlory-s7x]

It don’t matter unless you have someone back when it counts. You will see exactly who your homies are when adversity comes. Doc and Joel fake as hell. And they got what they deserved a washed James Harden that’s more of a chock in the playoffs than Ben😝😝

[@randellito]

@@NoGutsNoGlory-s7x did he have Jo back by getting better and working on his weakness for years … or just remain the same

[@WalterModel45]

You got harden now xdddd

[@duffman1876]

"I didn't improve my game" wow,yeah man I agree with ya Ben😎🍻🍺

[@davidliu2647]

I don’t care about the money. “Files grievance”

[@winnerwinnerchickendinner901]

Wouldn’t you do the same??

[@davidliu2647]

@@winnerwinnerchickendinner901 hell no I have way too much self respect to file a grievance when I know I did nothing to deserve it

[@bigbearkat2010]

@@davidliu2647 or at the very least don't try to spin a narrative that you don't care about money while you're doing it

[@vanescenze304]

@@winnerwinnerchickendinner901 nope. some of us have morals and integrity. try again.

[@chrisbrown8748]

@@winnerwinnerchickendinner901 Ummmm dude talk about missing the entire freaking point🤦🏽‍♂️. Yeah clown I would do the same thing BUT I wouldn’t be giving an interview where I lie and say it wasn’t about the money when clearly anyone who’s followed dude since High School knows how much he’s motivated by money.

[@Markymarkbejammin]

Peace is everything in life.

[@eagleeye304]

Theres nothing harder then mental battles. You cant do anything if your mind isn't right, especially when your own team and the entire NBA world is on top of you. Both sides of this situation were in the wrong, he definitely could have handled it better but so could have Philly. Move on and I hope he comes back this year stronger than ever with Kyrie and easy money.

[@davidliu2647]

I get mental health battles believe me I’ve had my fair share of them but him filing a grievance was just downright pathetic especially when he knew how important he was to the roster. If he wants to sit out and focus on himself that’s fine, but still cashing ur check?

[@powerlocks]

@@davidliu2647 he said it wasnt about the money.....BUT it was and he wanted to get paid for doing nothing! He is just soft!

[@eagleeye304]

@@davidliu2647 Like I said he was also in the wrong and could have handled the situation much better. Also, hope you're doing well

[@elijahh.7425]

@@powerlocks he still gotta put food onna table

[@youngreckless97]

@@davidliu2647 so judging by your logic, you don’t want to get paid for sick hours?

[@WpWill273]

The coddling was expected but damn it’s disappointing. JJ after every tough question had to let it be known he is on Bens side. Ridiculous 😂

[@MyNameIsLegato]

JJ Redick is a former teammate of his and player. What you want him to scream at him after every answer? It's a conversation

[@1209MArky]

That’s how he got the interview no one else could get.

[@kuruptzZz]

That's how you get people to open up more. When they feel you are on their side. He is a pro interviewer

[@GlennRoper]

He goal is not to be his buddy or confront him. The goal is help him feel comfortable to talk honestly.

[@micahclawrence]

It’s not a confrontation. It’s a place where you can tell your side. He supposed to call him a liar? With no proof? Foh

[@jaimelannister3317]

I’m glad he did this interview. Shows some character, cant hide from the world forever

[@vvggg12]

He’s a narcissistic psychopath (I mean that literally) his explanations are meaningless. He’s actually a vulnerable narcissist.

[@vlogsbyalejandro]

@@vvggg12 You should really stop spreading misinformation. Unless you know Ben personally or his psychologist, then I suggest you refrain from making any sort of diagnosis.

[@vvggg12]

@@vlogsbyalejandro Thanks for your advice but I reject it

[@vvggg12]

@@vlogsbyalejandro Also, I’m not a therapist so I can state whatever opinion I want

[@vlogsbyalejandro]

@@vvggg12 You're correct. This is the internet after all.

[@rupert6999]

I’m frustrated with Ben being on the pod and still allowed to basically just deflect and take no real ownership.

[@hueyfreeman5509]

Facts

[@Telecuhubby]

He did say he didn't handle things the right way and neither did the team.

[@wickedclown0186]

I mean what more do you want the man to do he’s already taken accountability and said he did wrong idk what more you want the man to do

[@hueyfreeman5509]

@@wickedclown0186 What accountability did he take when he said he wouldn't do anything different because he's where he is today?

[@jordandiaz7605]

@@hueyfreeman5509 he meant he wouldn’t change anything about his life because it made him grow. use your brain… mistakes make people mature and learn, just like in your life as well

[@Bumpmangetspaid]

“Getting on the floor was my priority” He sounds like he believes his own lies. His priority was getting his money for the year in any way possible OTHER than getting on the court.

[@Jay-cj8nf]

How do you know this?

[@vanescenze304]

​@@Jay-cj8nf wasnt he having financial disagreements with the team while publicly claiming that wasnt the issue?? lets be fr here.

[@chrisbrown8748]

@@Jay-cj8nf Because he’s not as gullible as you🤷🏽‍♂️

[@Jay-cj8nf]

@@chrisbrown8748 think you’re the gullible one. I never said I believe him did I? I asked a question, looking for facts. But you convinced yourself you knew what I was thinking or why I asked. Maybe gullible the wrong word for you… you’re just stupid.

[@Jay-cj8nf]

@@vanescenze304 I don’t know that’s why I asked

[@BHSNetwork]

Body language speaks for itself😂😂😂😂😭😭

[@terrymartin1660]

Can even make eye contact for longer than one second. No confidence.

[@epcarter6]

They still running with the narrative that they threw him under the bus lol. Also he came back to practice because he wanted to get paid not that he was trying to do the right damn thing. I knew when they had him on he was going to say a bunch of BS and play victim lol.

[@Michelles_Daughter]

💯

[@officialthomasjames]

This whole interview was Ben playing the victim. This dude hasn’t learned a damn thing.

[@alastairchong4824]

I hope you don't have to face depression one day

[@epcarter6]

@@officialthomasjames When I saw that they were going to have him on I knew that’s how it was going to go.

[@mest5621]

Why you gonna speak on him like you know his thoughts

[@srmgthegmbgang9865]

Well in there defense they worked so hard to get there and wanted to win and they just felt like he is capable and has the ability to be a star and he ran from it. Missing a shot anyone can do but to just run from it made them like man we worked for this

[@XxPoizinivyxX]

Sounds like you’re projecting your own feelings

[@Yute01]

@@XxPoizinivyxX tf

[@drumiller4692]

@@XxPoizinivyxX sounds like Ben's down ur throat

[@MAXIMUSWE]

He's explained CLEARLY in the press conference why he didn't shoot it ....That has been blown so far out of proportion that casuals think it was the last shot of the game or something 🤣🤦 There was still 3 minutes left in the game and we were still winning after the play. But Simmons haters have never been fair nor rational thinker's.... Because they only value players who score 20-30 ppg and shoot ten 3's a game. He never "ran from the ball" he averaged 10 ppg as opposed to 14 ppg.... But he negated that by averaging 9 apg instead of 6 apg in the regular season.

[@TheCriminalViolin]

True as well. But I guarantee that stupid decision to pass out of his wide-open dunk was also entirely mental for Ben. Same reason he doesn't shoot threes in games, and when he does, he often completely whiffs them. It's mental. The moments where it matters most, and he suddenly loses all mental toughness and bails.

[@EliRios9394]

I like how JJ's producer starts pouring the alcohol as soon as JJ mentions the hawks series! lmao

[@kevo212]

sounds like he has some accountability issues, pointing fingers. yeah he briefly mentioned he could have handled it better but didn’t elaborate. this would have come off better if he could explain himself and how aware he really was of himself and his actions

[@williefaulker]

I love JJ but , ben deserve to be criticized for that hawks performance. What isn't being mentioned is that a lot of fans were actually still supporting him until the passed up dunk attempt. Also Joel criticize his own performance as well, so I'm not sure that classifies as being thrown under the bus.

[@julianh.5372]

Practice grace please. Truly.

[@vanescenze304]

@@julianh.5372 practice accountability please. truly.

[@hueyfreeman5509]

Exactly. JJ let him get away with so many vague answers and didn't hold him accountable all for the sake of him being comfortable. Just a wasted interview

[@NothingElseMattersJM]

He held Trae Young to 39% FG

[@julianh.5372]

@@vanescenze304 What do I have to be accountable for here? You're deflecting. EVERYONE deserves grace. We all mess up, have flaws, and fall short. Nobody is perfect.

[@gerardrestaino404]

say what you want but its good to finally hear him talking about this

[@Chali_M]

I can't stand this dude. I'm mad I just listened to his BS

[@paperhag]

Man is the whiniest and softest player in NBA history.

[@kuzster9610]

Yeah it’s good to finally confirm that he is who we all think he is - an entitled, irresponsible human being

[@gerardrestaino404]

@@kuzster9610 I didn’t get those vibes but you are entitled to feel that way

[@gseric4721]

Facts.

[@Jbcomedystl]

Man ….I hear you but ..just like most people lack of self accountability is running rampart in this interview

[@gameimprovements4347]

I don't care of his physical age- he's still psychologically 15 years old

[@_VISION.]

You watched the whole thing?

[@1Daron2]

I personally don't believe him, there was way to many shenanigans going on with Ben and 76ers about getting help from the organization then refusing it then accepting in because he's not getting paid... it was a mess, it may be heavy what i'm gonna say but i think he use mental health excuse as a cover up because he knows we can't criticize that in current times.

[@mindyourbusiness1811]

I agree, the mental health stuff didn’t come up until they started fining him.

[@MAXIMUSWE]

Yet he's haters when it's convenient , has said he's had mental issues his whole career...and needed a sports psychologist....Then he admits that's true. ...and y'all say he's faking. Haters gonna hate , no matter what the individual does...and that's the bottomline.

[@ozgal6929]

Well lucky your opinion does not mean shite because you are not Ben, you are not living his life nor are you in a position to even comment. Ben ís a fantastic guy, a superb athlete , so just let it go at that. He is a human being and a bloody good one at that .

[@MAXIMUSWE]

@@ozgal6929 Amen , and he was treated like a piece of trash , all of the media and sixers organization treated him much worse than unprofessionally....They basically made a nationwide smear campaign about him.... Considering the organization could of stopped it by issuing a firm statement defending him from the start. It's one of the most degrading and inaccurate witch hunts I've ever seen in sports...I've never seen another athlete of merely 24 years of age targeted so viciously and so harshly....He was getting death threats , and being blamed solely for the series loss....When CLEARLY it's a team game , and a TEAM failure all the way around... It was a despicable act of cowardice by the organization , coach , media and his teammates. Then the fans joined in to pile it on. Because those haters he's had since the beginning of his career , were just waiting for the perfect opportunity and the perfect excuse to pile on ....Just because he wouldn't shoot 3's.

[@officialthomasjames]

People would love you if you simply held yourself accountable and worked hard. Yet, here you are, playing the victim. You beg for respect, but no one respects people who quit on their team and blames his teammates. JJ a clown too, Joel rolled himself and the entire team under the bus and they all deserved it. Ben was the only one who cried about it and blamed everyone else. When you look at Ben’s track record (LSU, Philly) it all makes perfect sense.

[@Nick-sr4fe]

Dawg he literally said “I didn’t handle things the right way”

[@jasonau427]

Hey Philly fan

[@williefaulker]

Exactly, people criticize the fans and the organization for the Ben situation, but people conveniently never mention that we gave the man several years to try and fix his shot, they never mention how people were still defending him when others around the same time as some have shown improvements to their game ( b.i , Lonzo, Jaylen Brown)

[@williefaulker]

@@Nick-sr4fe yeah, but he's also still trying to place blame on the team and fans. These are the same people that were still supporting him well after his rookie year, the same people that were so defending him. Here in philly, a lot of people still have faith in him until he passed up on that dunk. Then may be blaming himself a bit, but there's a lot that he's leaving out as to why fans and the team got fed up with him

[@B_Lo95]

@@jasonau427 he’s a POS. Biggest narcissist in NBA history. Dude runs from criticism like a vampire runs from the light, he comes out one time tells you everything you want to hear now magically he’s some saint? lol

[@tonydavisthedj2day]

“I don’t give af about the money… LETS SUIT THOUGH!” 😂😂😂😂 This dude is full of it.

[@christopherhorn1161]

Jerry West sent JJ on vacation, lol. Glad you are back with the content though...good get in Simmons.

[@TaylorTV5]

Nahhh… it’s not your teammates responsibility to fly out to your house and pick you up. They all have lives and their personal mental well being to upkeep. You can’t demand others to keep you up, you gotta do that yourself. I understand the movement to treat athletes more like people and not cash cows. But being a person means you have responsibilities to keep up with commitments you made. This circle jerking about how players can do no wrong is a joke. Ben abandoned his team, held them hostage & then demanded payment for what he abandoned.

[@vanescenze304]

100% agreed. ben doesnt seem to understand the idea of people being responsible for themselves. now we get to enjoy 1 hour of bs ramblings. if he doesnt improve next season....

[@_VISION.]

But you don't know how these players treat each other during these kinds of times for their teammates. This is probably a normal thing that he sort of expected to happen. This isn't rocket science.

[@armandoday8605]

Props to JJ for being a standup guy!

[@TheTwinkiefoot]

I think the "him not shooting the f-ing ball and then deciding to not do his job" part is where things went bad for Ben Simmons.

[@colinnixon7739]

Then proceeding to simply not play basketball. Lmao

[@Jin04115]

Depression doesn't care how much money you make, if you're a movie star athlete. It's a real disease that has no mercy.

[@dlxinfinite7098]

No mercy. But I dont think this is the case. He came out of that "depression" to know enough to sue the Sixers. That's not "depression"...that's revenge and aggression.

[@thespicycabbage]

depression is no joke. But there's also being entitled. Ben was being entitled.

[@Nothing-nf8ve]

He doesn't get money for that. If that would be how it is, please give salary men those money too.

[@adingdingdiiing6740]

Yes, and that's why there are real professionals who look at people with depression. Ben Simmons did NOT want to get checked by those professionals because he's lying about his mental health thing. Think about it. It came out of nowhere when the fines were piling up. The organization actually offered to help him seek professional help for it. He declined.

[@julianh.5372]

@@dlxinfinite7098 Practice more grace friend. More.

[@hammer3353]

All people inside the Sixers front office confirmed that he never mentioned anything about mental health to any of them before asking to be traded that summer. He only played the mental illness card after they kept fining him and he realized he wasn’t going to get what he wanted.

[@eudin98]

mental health still has a stigma around it and is difficult to admit you need help. hope you never have to go through it

[@commonsense3921]

Mental illness is the ultimate out of accountability because it’s something people cannot call you out on even if they think you are full of sh*t. So it’s a nice trick to keep in your back pocket.

[@glennedwards4476]

“I don’t care about the money” …. Said person then sues for money even though he didn’t play 🤨

[@julianh.5372]

....because it was wrongfully taken from him. Once he was in the mental space to be able to address it, he addressed it. Why don't you people have grace?

[@dennisgut923]

How was it wrongfully taken when he refused to show up for work

[@chrisbrown8748]

@@julianh.5372 Hahaha God your weak minded lol! It’s easy to tell who’s only lived in the 1st world and those who have never served in the Marine Corps or Army😂😂😂.

[@legacy8171]

@@chrisbrown8748 You don't have to go be a pawn in the military to be tough bud.

[@WalterModel45]

@@julianh.5372 Every player is paid when they don't play

[@Richard__Cranium]

It doesn't matter IF Doc and Embiid threw Ben under the bus. What matters is that Ben DESERVED to be thrown under the bus. 5 years...FIVE YEARS he had the support of the city and fans (even up to the last Game 7 game against the Hawks) and repaid everyone by regressing every single year in the one area that everyone wanted to see him improve in. To the point where this "generational talent" became a genuine liability in the most important parts of the season. Again, he had FIVE YEARS to address this and refused. He deserved to be thrown under every SEPTA bus in the city at that point.

[@danielplainview926]

Agreed. I didn't hear Ben talk about his offseason workouts on improving his jumper and free throws. All his life he dominated. He's in the league and his offensive game was exposed. Not sure if he'll improve much more. Great passer and defense. Kobe would have worked his tail off and said "I'm going to shove it in your face". No killer attitude with Ben.

[@moco3476]

so Ben wanted Yes men around him…. to tell him what he wants to hear but not the truth…? Ok

[@happyboy420666]

Reddick is not a journalist asking real questions. That is why Ben Simmons is on the show.

[@anima099]

Shaq said it best: There's a difference between mental health and mental fortitude. Can't agree with Ben yet. I need to see him play first. If he chickens out again, retire.

[@albus6130]

Happy to hear Ben is doing well. Unfortunate situation all around. That said, the excuse for the cell phone was 🧢

[@gianniburgess2879]

Bro started pouring more wine for Ben when JJ brought up the hawks series

[@g.m3399]

Part 2: Ben Simmons explains why things went bad at New Jersey nets

[@jomoguera2824]

JJ, I said when the Hawks series was lost that Doc and Joel did something, I never seen a player and especially a coach do. They allowed the media to bait them and they went public against Ben. I was really pissed that they didn't protect Ben.

[@abaoaqu1333]

this isn't a daycare. Literally people like Kobe or Jordan get lauded for their abrasive ways. All this signals to me is that Ben is indeed soft if that pissed you off, I wouldn't listen to a lot of NBA player interviews. Embiid's comments were hardly the damning thing you are making it out to be.

[@jomoguera2824]

@@abaoaqu1333 I'm old enough to remember when George McGinnis panicked in the finals, when Isiah Thomas panicked in the finals, when JR Smith panicked in the finals. The one thing they all had in common was their teammates and their organizations did not let the media bait them into disparaging comments about their teammate and players. At all cost you protect your teammate and your player. Obviously your the kinda of person that would betray the people you work with,as soon as a mistake is made. It's not about any one person. It's about showing loyalty. Obviously,that a principle you don't have the fortitude or heart to live by

[@abaoaqu1333]

@@jomoguera2824 also where is the loyalty that Ben showed to them. The man has been asked for years to do certain things for the team. I'm not sure if you are Ben's dad or not but it's ridiculous that Ben can be completely absolved of everything like he did all the things you are suggesting for his teammates and they simply turned their back on him. The problem with your revisionist history about all these other players is that they bought into what the TEAM did hence got the kind of support that you would expect. Ben always did Ben, damn the team, now your mad that the franchise and players that have complete acquiesced to him stopped doing that.

[@jomoguera2824]

@@abaoaqu1333 Well your are perhaps one of those,if was a NBA team owner would not take on the over 100 million dollars on his contract. Feel relieved you don't own a team🤭🤭🤭

[@_VISION.]

@@abaoaqu1333 absolved from what goofy? He can still be held accountable by the team. It doesn't need to be had or made worse publicly so you can sit at home and feel good about yourself.

[@ozgal6929]

I've missed you Ben and can't wait to see you play. Love from the Gold Coast ♥️🇦🇺

[@蘭巴拉爾]

Only you fell apart, sixers are doing great

[@paolovillorente9102]

are they though? got harden but still hasn't get past the 2nd round. the future doesn't seem bright for the sixers tbh.

[@user-cp1ku8jk6e]

2nd rounded 😭

[@deexk7189]

not really , but ok lol

[@zm3912]

Sixers 😂

[@Badlandz]

@@paolovillorente9102 you don’t know basketball 😂

[@riverofcustard5027]

Damn, I kinda feel like the media brainwashed me about Ben, if you only watch the news, it makes you think that he's a baby and he's faking everything, but you hear him speak and he seems down to Earth and honest, like I'm on his side now.

[@Anthonycheesman33]

Boy this didn’t age well lol.

[@TheJakeMarc]

They "threw him under the bus" bc he never cared about improving. Ever. it's not the one mistake that pissed them off.

[@andreslarrain2790]

Good job guys for giving a true chance to open up. and good luck Ben back on the floor and with your life.

[@hueyfreeman5509]

He didn't say anything though, they just let him get away with a bunch of vague answers

[@abaoaqu1333]

@@hueyfreeman5509 facts

[@scanz7837]

Simmons sucked at LSU ...why anybody is surprised this is the way his career is going. JJ should teach the guy how to make a jump shot instead of listening his bs

[@dileckma7552]

Stf*...

[@the77th]

“How his career is going!”? 😭😭😭 you mean being better than 95% of the league? Are you a DUNCE? 😭😭😭 JUMPSHOT? Media got y’all fooled …. Sounding like you never played a game of basketball! Put it this way… Ben Simmons can take ZERO jumpshots for the rest of his career and just play at the level he has always played and make the hall of fame! Do y’all understand this game! ? Before we even talk his offense….. man was DPOY in many peoples book! Defends ALL 5 positions at a HALL OF FAME level…….

[@issa2666]

@@the77th he is not better than 95% 😂😂

[@Maru609-_-]

@@the77th L comment

[@the77th]

@@issa2666 6 years in the league..... played 4 years.... 3 time all star, 2 time all 1st team defense..... are you slow ?

[@MEMORIIIESMEDIA]

JJ wit another THREEEE 🔥🔥🔥, been waiting on Ben Simmons response for a decade

[@sturred]

Been waiting on this one 🔥😭

[@arnaudfg]

This helped me understand this situation more

[@andrewmaldonado197]

This fluff piece is crazy

[@dlxinfinite7098]

Im kinda shocked. JJ normally isnt this fluffy and sympathetic

[@ScottH.]

Tough to call someone out when they're telling you how bad their mental health was. Whats he suppose to say....you're lying! 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@DojaSlayer]

Ben needed to be heard glad jj did this interview

[@user-gm3ll8jf7x]

JJ let me down in this interview. Asking soft questions and letting ben get away with bs answers. Never asked him about his accountability in the situation. Everything is everyone else's fault.

[@TheClipsPod]

so you didn’t hear the answers you wanted? take it for what is it champ. he took accountability towards the end. just gotta hear it

[@Titan2User]

He took accountability and made a mistake u act u never been in a similar situation.

[@socialistbatman1211]

You know he plays a game for a job right? Stfu about accountability because he was bad in some basketball games

[@LASSELASSE-m2m]

I mean he actually said in the interview that he handled it the wrong way as well. He took his part of the blame.

[@chrisrodriguez6940]

What questions would satisfy you? He’s letting the guy tell his side because no one has heard his side of the story. Ben Simmons also said he handled things wrong. When you aren’t in a good place you do things out of character. I don’t think anyone can say the sixers handled the situation correctly either. Ben is a human being none of us are perfect and unless you’ve been in his shoes you can’t really judge the kid. Kudos to him for getting to a good enough place for him to finally speak on it. I look forward to him proving the haters wrong.

[@oOBfCOo]

>Ben Simmons says he doesn't care about money >Sues the Sixers for not paying him while he sat out Also heard on the radio, the radio host predicted what happened: he was gonna show up to practice and suffer a "back injury" immediately, so he had a pretense to sit out (for the made up back injury and not his weak mental) and still get paid. But the doctors cleared him and he still didn't play, so the Sixers didn't want to pay him. But I guess since they settled, he can talk about it now.

[@LuckyJackson2020]

lol he had a yr to go over this answer 💀

[@smithman222001]

I love to see players use their voice. Best of Ben

[@batmane9055]

I watched Kobe growing up going through his legal issue, beef with Phil and Shaq in LA, post Shaq trade team struggles, divorce issue, - MAN MADE NO EXCUSES AND KEPT GOING. We all have mental health issues.. EVERYONE DOES. Ben's non answers did nothing to make me give him a pass. This is a big year for him. Hopefully he can pull himself out of mediocrity.

[@brucejenner3318]

Not that deep bro you're a nobody remember he doesn't need a pass from you lmao clown

[@onidtubes]

Curious why JJ is no longer on ESPN. Methinks Stephen A saw him as a threat that he is stealing Stephen A's thunder.

[@dlxinfinite7098]

I think JJ saw the stinking cesspool behind the elaborate sets and left.

[@Badlandz]

Nah it’s because JJ is bias asf. He will always side with the players

[@justwatchingaround3207]

Simmons-I dont care about the money Sixers-We wont pay you unless you join camp Simmons-*joins camp*

[@sambaker4735]

He can't just give up everything

[@mpfrmda6ix427]

JJ Redrick was one my favorite player 💯

[@fredsavage7380]

I was hard on Ben at first. But at the end of the day we’re all human beings dealing with a lot in tough world. Especially being a young man I can understand some of the mental struggles he faces

[@DeaCaelestis]

Ben comes off pretty cool here. Seems like a chill dude

[@shawndavis1480]

He's not "cool", he's aloof.

[@sharesecombs3931]

Everyone handles things differently and it doesn't help with the media dragging you down more. Praying for you Ben, protect your mental because with or without basketball your a human being!!👍🙏💕

[@markblue6464]

Crazy how people just be belittling athlete for mental health and I’m glad to hear his side cuz I know the sixers were hiding on how they were really treating him

[@julianh.5372]

And they STILL don't want to admit they were wrong either smh. There's little to no grace these days.

[@nicholaspu]

JJ wearin shades so he doesn’t get bullsh in his eye.

[@p-money33]

He sued the Sixers for lost salary when he knew he didn't or couldn't play, then says he "doesn't care about the money". He took exception to Doc putting him into practice because he had told him he wasn't feeling up to it. He took exception to people flying to LA to see him just before training camp because in his mind they should have done it earlier. He lacks real accountability, and I worry that he still doesn't get it

[@julianh.5372]

....because it was wrongfully taken from him. Once he was in the mental space to be able to address it, he addressed it. Why don't you people have grace?

[@p-money33]

@@julianh.5372 there's nothing wrong with caring about the money, so why pretend? There's a debate about whether it was wrongfully taken from him but that's a separate question. Also addressed what? Nothing in this interview gives any sign he's addressed his issues - it's not even clear what he thinks the issues were, or what he did to address it. He still doesn't understand why people focus on the trae young play

[@JasonCheungNY]

Sorry. The team went out of its way to build around Ben. Publicly supported him despite him refusing to improve the one aspect of his game that he needs to work on. Forced an All-NBA franchise center out of the paint where he's less efficient just so Ben can have scoring opportunities. Embiid and Doc didn't throw him under the bus but even if they did, they would be fully justified.

[@markh7831]

Lol they tried to support him only after the coach and the star player threw him under the bus

[@clutch7548]

You sound pretty stupid saying “went out of there way to build around him” 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 Its their job to build the best possible team to win🤣🤣🤣🤣 you know the Sixers werent invented FOR SIMMONS right moron?

[@paholamercedesnova6830]

If you know anything about the game of basketball you know that the Sixers were NEVER built around Ben. Just check the bucks or Draymond Green's fit on the warriors. That's the blueprint for a team that has a player like Ben. The tempo is fast, there's a lot of ball movement, and he's a natural passer so he flourishes in those structures. The sixers are the total opposite of that with Embiid on the floor. Embiid slows down the game's pace and his play style is opposite of Ben's.

[@eharlem3]

Ngl its refershing to hear Ben's side of what went down. He was clearly going through a lot and he recognizes he could've done this differently....but its nice to him him just speak on things in general

[@raincntry2657]

Props to JJ. He's the best NBA interview out there.

[@bxi1547]

No

[@angeloclement1788]

Thank you for this

[@lionelldalguntas]

It feels like he is from this generation. ❄

[@dlxinfinite7098]

He is the current generation. Mentally soft, whiney and complaining at any little setback.

[@gameimprovements4347]

Straight facts

[@MrPiccalo3000]

Yeah but what generation did this generation look up to to get to this point 🤔 didn’t come out of nowhere.

[@silewis9396]

Oh really? I felt he was playing with Wilt Chamberlain's generation!?!

[@martinbedoya5486]

Aww he has it so so hard pray for him guys he must really really need it omg

[@julianh.5372]

Practice grace.

[@xZaaminator]

I can confidently say he looks mentally better and happier. He looks like he ready both mentally and physically. Hope he’s still getting the help he needs. People don’t even understand how bad Philly fans are so I understand it took a huge toll on him

[@kenkaplan3654]

You don't know what you are talking about or one thing about this yet you presume on us who had to endure this creep.

[@xZaaminator]

@@kenkaplan3654 you say I don’t know what I’m talking about and you say he’s a creep lmao. How’s he a creep when y’all Philly fans really the second worst fan base

[@ezmoney7861]

Bro we waited for him year after year..the fans were very patient all we asked for was heart ..win or lose but he was afraid then blamed every one else

[@charliekirsch5708]

Only thing different ab philly fans is that respect is earned not given, jj earned it, ben didnt earn it and wont earn it going forward.

[@xZaaminator]

@@ezmoney7861 you already know he needed more time, there are plenty of players I could name that needed time to develop. Ben’s case was differently, he needed help mentally. He’s a top 3 defender in the league. Just cuz one player doesn’t shoot doesn’t mean the other 4 on the team can’t shoot lmao.

[@playthatagainbruh394]

Dude. Man up. You didnt even play with Brooklyn. This man wanted to be coddled but these are grown men smh

[@jordanderson70]

He is a professional basketball player that was scared of the free-throw line. He did cost his team and should 100% have been blamed. He didn't use the comments the right way and work on his game by the sounds of it. Others find motivation in the criticism. Guys like Giannis and Lebron used it the right way

[@jaimeb5796]

You forget Doc Rivers wet the bed? Ben is part of the reason they lost but not the only person responsible for it

[@dragomirmarinov3891]

I think he is done. He's going to crash and burn this season and that will be it.

[@CaptainChin0]

We all know how Ben messed up but the way Doc and Embiid went about it was not right. Ben should be held accountable but you don’t reiterate to the press how he fell short. That’s something you address in the locker room.

[@breeshteam]

I hate how no accountability is taking place in this interview. Disappointed in this tbh. I would expect JJ of all people to be the one to tell Ben how much of a diva he looks like but nope. 🤦🏽‍♂️

[@JarettGray1604]

Go in with an open mind and you won’t be dissatisfied 😊

[@gators9570]

JJ is pretty much always gonna side with player empowerment. He’s cool but you can’t rely on him to be objective

[@mnm121314]

Everyone should take care of their mental health! It's really good to hear this from someone who's making tons of money but acknowledging that money can't buy happiness

[@Connie9s]

i hate it when people talk from both sides of their mouths. he practically threw himself under the bus on the pitch and off pitch. it aint rocket science !! lets stop this buffoonery and own it all. he was a wimp and now he may have grown out of it... period!

[@extravatrek]

It took me days to get through this... but it was worth it...

[@extravatrek]

That comment was meant for the whole video, not just this excerpt...

[@ELO_Curt12]

I’m honestly so proud of Ben Simmons for opening up about this and acknowledging the fact that sometimes you gotta focus on your self and your mental health before everything else. Especially when there’s so many false narratives about you trying to pin you as a bad guy, I truly feel for Ben Simmons and I am happy he is in a much better state than he was prior to when he was with the 6ers

[@kenkaplan3654]

Boy did you get played.

[@yohanamsuya5047]

Dope interview!

[@AkimboSlap]

Ok yea but why did he pass up that layup?? Really the only question I have.

[@agentcodybanx8909]

And an answer you'd never understand. You aren't an nba player so you don't understand what he was going through. It's a lot more than getting the ball in the hoop

[@jimoroger]

I really wanna know why he passed that ball, that is the only piece of the puzzle that’s missing

[@theycallmeroach1911]

It's just a half second decision. Nothing more or less.

[@mascot2007]

Ben always been a pass guy first and when mentally your not right you will never take a shot cos you got too many thoughts in your head

[@silverback425]

Simple. He thought Galanari was closer up on him and was gonna foul him, so he gave up the ball as quickly as possible. He didn’t want to go to the FT line.

[@rashardstallworth9240]

Its amazing how medical info, Hippa Violations, keep happening with that organization. Ben Simmons, Joel Embid, Markelle Fultz, Jimmy Butler, etc….

[@jasonleigh6396]

Hasn’t learned a thing. Basketball fans remember every step of how this debacle unfolded with this man-child. Nice try, Ben. I hope you can finally grow up in Brooklyn.

[@ezmoney7861]

Facts he does he think he's fooling ???

[@Cyberclone8790]

Hoping for the best for Ben. He seems like a great dude