The Brooklyn Nets are officially out of the playoffs after being swept by the Boston Celtics and people are dragging Ben Simmons.
Piling on Simmons is nothing new – it’s been happening for months now across the NBA world.
But things have reached a new level over the last few days since it was announced that Simmons wouldn’t join his struggling team in Game 4 of the first round.
The team speculated that Simmons had recovered fully from his back injury and was ready to help his new squad out.
Yet, in the end, he didn’t play a single game this season.
Ben Simmons observing greatness pic.twitter.com/fTOgXlHugd
— Tim (@timisaperson) April 24, 2022
A viral image of Simmons standing by while his team got worked was burning up the internet and it’s now spawned a bunch of hilarious imitators.
In the Photoshopped shots, Simmons is spotted on the sidelines during other great moments in NBA history, like the Boston Celtics dominating the Los Angeles Lakers and Allen Iverson stepping over Ty Lue.
It’s a very funny joke but it also underscores a real truth: Simmons left his team high and dry.
Booing Ben
Simmons better turn things around with Brooklyn’s fanbase as soon as possible or else he’ll be despised in both Philadelphia and New York.
When next season starts, he will have to do a lot to show the fans that he really is the player they want and need.
His extended absence this year may have been totally legitimate but it still looks very bad and feels like a cop-out to many.
One thing is for sure: fans in New York are not ones to hold back their opinions.
If they don’t like Simmons, they will let him know.
But with his skill, he has the ability to win them over.
He could still blow all of Brooklyn away.
NEXT: Skip Bayless Summed Up How All Nets Fans Feel