Shaquille O’Neal didn’t spare 76ers estranged level guard Ben Simmons whereas evaluating him to Joel Embiid on Thursday evening’s “Contained in the NBA.”
“The distinction between him and his gentle associate is he can take criticism with out being a crybaby and he nonetheless desires to play,” O’Neal stated concerning the Sixers teammates.
O’Neal isn't any stranger to coming down on stars, particularly Embiid, who beforehand took the Lakers legend’s criticism to coronary heart earlier than embracing recommendation from him and TNT co-host Charles Barkley.
“Me and Charles have been on him. We keep on him. We inform him to his face what he must do. He didn’t cry. He didn’t say ‘I need to be traded’, he didn’t complain about mistreatment, and that’s the distinction. That’s why I like him and respect him,” O’Neal stated about Embiid, who led the 76ers to a 105-87 win over the Lakers on Thursday evening with 26 factors and is taking part in at an MVP stage in Simmons’ absence.
Simmons, in the meantime, has not performed a single sport this season as he pushes for a commerce, which he requested throughout a summer season holdout with the Sixers — following a traditionally poor playoff efficiency final season.
“The opposite man [Simmons], I don’t respect and I’ve been desirous about it, he’s lacking the entire season as a result of they requested your coach a query, ‘can we win with you?’ and your coach gave a humorous reply to let you know within the summertime you must work in your sport.”
O’Neal was referencing Sixers coach Doc Rivers’ feedback after Philadelphia was eradicated from the playoffs by the Hawks final yr. Rivers was requested by a reporter if he believed Simmons might be level guard on a championship group.
“I don’t even know the reply to that proper now,” Rivers stated.
Throughout Thursday’s “Contained in the NBA,” O’Neal stated he would “eliminate” Simmons.
“You don’t assume I haven’t been criticized by you guys and Stephen A. [Smith]?” O’Neal stated. “You don’t assume I’ve ever been criticized by LA media, New York media, nice gamers get criticized, however the nice gamers additionally step up the criticism and carry out. This different man, I don’t respect him. I might eliminate him.”
Charles Barkley added, “Till they work out what to do with Ben Simmons, the Sixers usually are not true contenders.”
The 29-19 Sixers are at the moment tied with the with the Nets for the fifth seed within the Jap Convention.
With the commerce deadline approaching on Feb. 10, it is going to be attention-grabbing to see if the Sixers transfer Simmons.
Philadelphia performs host to Sacramento on Saturday.
Post a Comment