Ben Simmons takes a shot at title favourites Brooklyn Nets

Ben Simmons chose an unusual moment to blow up the NBA news cycle.

Struggling through an ugly April where his points per game and assists have dropped to season-worst lows, the Aussie also saw his family generating unwanted headlines as extremely private matters became public.

Who knows when his interview with ESPN’s Rachel Nichols was originally scheduled, but it was odd to see Simmons on The Jump taking shots at Rudy Gobert and the Brooklyn Nets when he is hardly flying on a professional and personal front.

“Obviously, there’s a lot of respect for Rudy. I know what he’s capable of. I know he’s great down there in the paint, but he’s not guarding everybody and that’s just what it is,” Simmons said about his main rival for the Defensive Player of the Year Award.

“He guarded me in Utah … I had 42 (points) and apparently I’m not a scorer. It is what it is, but I have a lot of respect for him. At the same time, I think (the award is) mine this year.”

“Obviously, Brooklyn has a lot of talent,” he added, about the 76ers’ chief opposition for the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. “But at the end of the day, there’s only one ball, and you’ve got to play defence, too.”

To be fair, Simmons comments looked a lot spicier when they were chopped up and splashed all over social media in fancy graphics.

Nichols had to coax the comment about Gobert from the Sixers point guard and his view on the Nets isn't that different to what many have said since James Harden joined Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.

But that didn’t stop the American media machine going to work as they dissected Simmons’ stance for 24 hours.

Ben Simmons doesn’t mind stirring the pot.Source:Getty Images

“Ben Simmons does not watch film of opposing teams. Because if he did watch film, he would know that the Brooklyn Nets are sharing and moving the basketball as well as any team in the league,” Chris Broussard said. “And he’d also note that James Harden has been playing point guard better than Ben ever has … I mean, c’mon, Ben. Have you been paying attention?”

Nic Wright wondered whether Simmons was still perturbed about being included in trade rumours earlier this season when the 76ers were also reportedly pursuing Harden.

“Is some of this Ben Simmons a little, call it salty, because he was almost the one traded for Harden?” Wright said. “Yeah, I think so. I think Ben Simmons has a point to prove that Philly was lucky that the trade they reportedly offered was not made. So I do think there is a little extra oomph here for Simmons.”

It certainly promised to add some extra flavour to the 76ers’ crucial home clash against the Nets on Thursday as both teams entered the matchup with 37-17 records.

But it was announced before tip-off Brooklyn would be missing Durant, Harden and veteran bench additions Blake Griffin and LaMarcus Aldridge, leaving the title favourites severely shorthanded.

Kevin Durant and James Harden sat out the Nets game against the Sixers on Thursday. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)Source:Getty Images

The Sixers took advantage by jumping out to 94-84 lead after three quarters. Simmons had 13 points and nine assists.

Philly was led by Joel Embiid’s 37 points and 13 rebounds, while Irving led the Nets with 33 points and nine assists.

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