As Ben Simmons continues to draw criticism for his disappearing act in the 76ers’ second-round loss to the Hawks, one teammate is rushing to his defense.
Philadelphia center Dwight Howard took to Instagram Live to defend Simmons, imploring fans “send him some positive vibes” rather than scold the three-time All-Star.
“This man is 24-years-old,” Howard said. “He’s still learning who he is as a person and a player. I know a lot of stuff. They can say whatever they want about this man, but he’s still a young man. He’s my teammate. I don’t care how any of y’all feel about my teammate. I’m gonna stick with him no matter what. Ben, I got your back, man. You’re my brother and I love you.”
Simmons has emerged as the popular scapegoat for Philadelphia’s premature playoff exit. He scored just 19 total points in the final three games of the series and attempted only three shots during the fourth quarter in the seven games. In one notable instance, he seemed to pass up an open dunk during the final minutes of Game 7, instead giving way to Matisse Thybulle, who would go on to make one of two free throws.
Simmons’ struggles were most apparent at the free throw line. A career 60 percent free throw shooter, Simmons shot just 34.2% from the stripe in the playoffs, the worst free throw percentage in playoff history for a player with at least 70 attempts.
“There’s a lot of pressure man,” Howard said. “He’s 24-years-old and he got everybody in the world telling him he can’t do something he’s been doing his whole life. Everybody telling him he can’t do it. Now he’s all in his head. Let that man live.”
On Tuesday, Philadelphia president of basketball operations Daryl Morey sidestepped questions regarding Simmons’ future with the franchise, while also acknowledging that Simmons needs to become a better shooter. Morey, though, did laud his team’s foundation and noted that “we love what Ben brings.”
A day earlier, Doc Rivers, like Howard, said remained “very bullish” on his star point guard. But on Sunday, Rivers couldn’t say whether Simmons is a championship-level point guard.
Simmons, who turns 25 in July, is one season into a five-year, $177 million max extension that will run through the 2025 season.
“He might have messed up, didn’t take no shots, didn’t do whatever,” Howard said. “But he’s going to come back better next year.
“That man got it in him to be great, man. I believe this is something that’s going to wake him up.”