NBA on TNT analyst Shaquille O’Neal didn’t maintain any punches when speaking about Ben Simmons.
Thursday night time’s (Jan.28) taping Inside The NBA centered on the large reveal of the starters for the 2022 NBA All-Star recreation. The dialog between Ernie Johnson, Shaq, Charles Barkley, and Kenny Smith highlighted the gamers who’ve been balling out this season, particularly large man Joel Embiid, who’s placing up MVP-like numbers.
Whereas discussing the 76ers celebrity middle, Shaq determined to make use of his tv time to eviscerate Embiid’s lacking teammate, Ben Simmons. In case you have been below a rock, Ben Simmons has not performed a single time after his emotions received harm after some feedback his head coach Doc Rivers made following Simmons’ poor play throughout final 12 months’s playoffs. Shaq referred to as the 25-year-old hooper every part however his identify, labeling him “smooth and a “crybaby.”
“I keep on large guys as a result of I care about them. I would like them to play a sure means. I would like them to play at a sure stage. The distinction between [Embiid] and his smooth associate [Simmons] is, he can take criticism with out being a crybaby, and he nonetheless needs to play,” O’neal led his rant off with.
“Me and Charles, we’ve been on [Embiid], and we keep on him. We advised him to his face what he must do. He didn’t cry, he didn’t say, ‘I wish to get traded,’ he didn’t complain about mistreatment. And that’s the distinction. That’s why I like and respect him. The opposite man, I don’t respect him,” he continued.
Wait, there’s extra.
I’ve been interested by it – you’re lacking a complete season as a result of they requested your coach a query, ‘Can we win with out you?’, and your coach gave a humorous reply? That ought to let you know. You want to get within the summertime and go work in your recreation.
You don’t suppose I haven’t been criticized by you guys, Stephen A.? You don’t suppose I haven’t been criticized by L.A. media, New York media? Nice gamers get criticized. However the nice gamers additionally step as much as the criticism and carry out. So this different man, I don’t respect him. I’d do away with him.
Ouch.
This isn’t the primary time Shaq has sounded off on Simmons. Following the 76ers Recreation 7 loss, O’Neal stated, “if he [Simmons] was in my locker room, I’d have knocked his ass out.”
The one individual that didn’t get lit up throughout Inside The NBA was Kyrie Irving. Shaq additionally had some phrases for him again in September, saying he would have gone upstairs to administration and advised them to “get his [Irving’s] ass up outta right here.”
You gotta love when Shaq retains all of it the best way actual, he is likely to be a bit out of line, however he’s completely proper.
Picture: Michael Reaves / Getty
