On April 25, Beijing time, it was reported from the famous Shams that Ben Simmons will not return to participate in the Nets and Celtics' G4. This means that Ben Simmons will most likely end a full season with a zero appearance. It is worth mentioning that Ben Simmons has a salary of up to $33 million this season, and even though he was fined nearly $20 million by Philadelphia, Ben Simmons still made $13 million.
Simmons has been paid as much as $33 million this season, the second season of a five-year, 170 million contract he and Philadelphia signed early in the summer of 2019. From now on, there is no doubt that Philadelphia's choice at that time was extremely wrong. And, in order to get Simmons to play a point guard, they gave up another champion, Fultz. But fortunately, they stopped the loss in time and used Simmons as the main body of the transaction in exchange for Harden.
Today, the wrongdoers are the Nets. This season, the Nets have to pay Ben Simmons more than $13 million in salary, and Simmons' return to the team is 0 points, 0 boards and 0 assists. Just when the team was in a 0-3 predicament and desperately needed a victory to save the last face of the season, Simmons retreated. No wonder Reggie Miller looked down on Simmons, saying, "This guy has no competitive spirit at all." ”
Moreover, once Simmons's appeal is successful, he can get back the $20 million he was fined. It's just that Ben Simmons has completely withdrawn from the ranks of superstars. The playoffs are the stage for superstars, and if they don't even have the courage to try, because they refuse to play for fear of injury, such a player is difficult to achieve great things.
Therefore, even if Simmons returns next season, I am afraid it will be difficult to help the Nets. Because a player's temperament is difficult to change, players who can become top superstars are frighteningly competitive in their bones. But apparently Simmons didn't, so he couldn't be a superstar either. In contrast, Harden ventured back this season, and this season, although the decline in form was obvious but the attitude was diligent, the deal is undoubtedly philadelphia to make a lot of money.