Ben Simmons has been the NBA media’s punching bag throughout the short offseason but the under fire Aussie has found an ally.
Philadelphia 76ers super-fan and Hollywood star Kevin Hart, hit out at all the criticism levelled at the Australian during his trade stalemate with the Sixers.
Hart admitted he has spoken to Simmons amid the row with Philly, and said the criticism of the star has reached an illogical level.
“I’ll say this on the record: Ben Simmons is a f—ing star,” Hart said on the All The Smoke podcast.
“Philadelphia, man, we’re a different city.
“Look, you’ve got to let players play like they play. He got there by playing how he plays. Granted, this is a three [point] shooting time in the NBA. [But] that ain’t Ben. He’s not that guy. He’s not that guy. Now, because of the media and how they position things, well, somehow we forgot about all the good that he did.
READ MORE: Australia sets new record in World Cup qualifiers with win over Oman
READ MORE: Storm board ‘seriously considered axing’ Cameron Munster
“Wasn’t he an All-Star? Wasn’t he All-Defensive Team? What are we talking about here?”
After a nightmare post-season, Simmons’ value has dropped with the Sixers unable to find a suitable trade partner. Hart said everyone has forgotten how talented the Australian is.
“But I’m telling you guys, as a point guard that man stands at 6’10. As a 6’10 point guard, if you’re telling me that’s not a valuable asset, then I don’t know basketball.
“I know him, I think he’s young, he’s a great dude, he’s got a great f—ing future and a great career ahead of him. And for him, this is nothing but a time to bear down and each year show progression.
“But I don’t like that in this time today, we forget, we forget so fast. We forget so fast.
“… Do you know what All-Defensive Team is? Do you know what that means? Do we know what an All-Star, or what it takes to become an All-Star [means]? Do we understand that, or do we just throw it out the window? I don’t think with him you do that.
“Wherever he goes, wherever he ends up, Ben Simmons is a f–ing star,” he said.
“Whoever gets that guy, that f—ing potential and that beast of a man, you’re going to see the bang for your buck.”
For a daily dose of the best of the breaking news and exclusive content from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here!