Skip to main content

'Pathetic' basketball star Ben Simmons is slammed as a 'traitor' after withdrawing from Australia's Olympics team to 'work on his skills' in the NBA offseason

By

NBA star Ben Simmons won't play for Australia in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics after the Philadelphia 76ers point guard confirmed he will use the offseason 'to focus on individual skill development'.

According to basketball reporter Marc Stein, the 24-year-old informed Basketball Australia 'he requires this upcoming period of time to focus on individual skill development' after being slammed for his poor form in the NBA playoffs. 

The decision is a crushing blow for Australia's medal chances at the event as Simmons was set to lead a team heavy in NBA talent. 

Simmons has been widely criticised after a hugely underwhelming series in the Eastern Conference semi-finals against the Atlanta Hawks where Philadelphia crashed out in Game 7 at home. 

'Pathetic. @BenSimmons25 needs to sack his advisers and get some people who tell him what he needs to know rather than wants to hear,' journalist Greg Jericho said. 

'That’s good cause Australia needs shooters anyway,' another commenter posted to Twitter, referencing Simmons' struggles to make jump shots. 

NBA star Ben Simmons won't play for Australia in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics - instead choosing to focus on 'skill development' after being slammed for his poor form when his 76ers side lost in the NBA playoffs

NBA star Ben Simmons won't play for Australia in the upcoming Tokyo Olympics - instead choosing to focus on 'skill development' after being slammed for his poor form when his 76ers side lost in the NBA playoffs

The 24-year-old informed Basketball Australia 'he requires this upcoming period of time to focus on individual skill development'

The 24-year-old informed Basketball Australia 'he requires this upcoming period of time to focus on individual skill development'

The Boomers confirmed the 76ers star would not be present in Tokyo in a statement on Tuesday morning. 

'I have spoken with Ben and whilst we wanted him to be a part of our team, we understand and support his decision and he has made it clear that this is something that he wants to be a part of in the future,' head coach Brian Goorjian said.

'It is a pretty rough time for him right now and I know it is something that he wanted to do, but the timing just hasn't worked.

'The best thing for everybody right now is for him to go on and develop that skill package and improve in a couple of areas for his next season in the NBA, but the Boomers are always here for him. We wanted him to know that in his time of need, the culture and the guys here are behind him and support him.' 

Aussie fans were less supportive of Simmons' decision, which all but ends any hopes the country had of being in medal contention at the Tokyo Games. 

“Traitor to the motherland, the Coward Ben Simmons,' one angry supporter posted to Twitter. 

'How is this off season going to be different to previous off seasons where Ben's 'skill development' has led to absolutely nothing. Cue the beach pics from the Bahamas,' another said.  

Fans took to social media to rip the entitled NBA star, saying he was more likely to spend his summer in the Bahamas, referring to an offseason he spent with then-girlfriend Kendall Jenner (pictured together)

Fans took to social media to rip the entitled NBA star, saying he was more likely to spend his summer in the Bahamas, referring to an offseason he spent with then-girlfriend Kendall Jenner (pictured together)

'I have spoken with Ben and whilst we wanted him to be a part of our team, we understand and support his decision and he has made it clear that this is something that he wants to be a part of in the future,' Boomers head coach Brian Goorjian said

'I have spoken with Ben and whilst we wanted him to be a part of our team, we understand and support his decision and he has made it clear that this is something that he wants to be a part of in the future,' Boomers head coach Brian Goorjian said

San Antonio Spurs point guard and compatriot Patty Mills said he thought the camp would be a good place for Simmons to develop but supported his mate's decision. 

'As a teammate, as a fan and as a supporter, we all want to see our best players putting on the green and gold and for me in particular, having that thought even to be able to share the court with Benny at some stage in the green and gold, is something I am always going to look forward to and unfortunately now is not going to be the time, and that is ok,' said Mills.

'This place right here, and the program we have developed, and how strong our culture is, this is one place for him that is always going to be here with open arms because we are mates. We are team-mates, we are a brotherhood and to be able to represent the green and gold, that is the culture that we have.

'The number one fact and characteristic of our group is how we support each other through the good, bad and ugly, whatever it may be, and Ben isn't an exception to that. No matter what he does, myself and the team will continue to support him because this is a safe place – everyone needs to know and understand that now more than ever, we need to support Ben on his journey.' 

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Inside Paedophile Island: Incredible pictures show Jeffrey Epstein cavorting with scantily clad young women where he provided gourmet food and beauty lotions and spent hours watching topless teens in Girls Gone Wild 'for inspiration'

By
Jeffrey Epstein spent an hour of his day watching explicit episodes of Girls Gone Wild while working out and cavorting with nubile young women at his private Caribbean island, as seen in these photos exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com. The perverted financier, who committed suicide at age 66 in August 2019, would ride his exercise bike as he watched the X-rated footage -featuring bare-breasted college girls - because it was 'inspiration' for him, a source who spent time on the island told DailyMail.com. Epstein, who reportedly demanded sex three times a day, was transfixed by the graphic videos that showed young women flashing their breasts to the camera in bars and nightclubs.   New details of his sinister life have further been exposed in never-before-seen photographs of his private island Little St James, which was dubbed 'pedophile' and 'orgy' island by disgusted locals. Epstein appears in the series of images surrounded by nubile young women, including s...
Post a Comment
Read more

The HS2 money pit: Ministers are told first stage of high-speed rail line may cost another £800m... six months after a budget increase saw total costs soar by £20.6bn to £43billion

By
Ministers have been told that Phase One of controversial rail line HS2 could cost £800million more than planned. It comes just six months after a budget increase saw total predicted costs for the first stage of the high-speed line soar by £20.6billion to £43billion. In a written statement to Parliament, HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson said half of this figure is due to preparation of the route for construction involving 'more significant challenges than anticipated'. This includes the need to remove more asbestos than expected. Another 'significant cost pressure' worth £400 million has also been identified during the development of designs for Euston station. Mr Stephenson warned that further investigation is being carried out which 'could identify further pressure'. Ministers have been told that Phase One of controversial rail line HS2 could cost £800million more than planned. Pictured: HS2 Minister Andrew Stephenson The HS2 route would initially link London and...
Post a Comment
Read more

Missouri police resume search for body of mother, 28, believed to have been 'suffocated by her husband who wanted to stop her fleeing to her native China with their daughter' a year ago

By
A year after a young Chinese mother living in Missouri with her family vanished without a trace, police have resumed the search for her body.  Mengqi Ji Elledge, 28, was reported missing by her husband, Joseph Elledge, on October 10, 2019. He was charged in February with first-degree murder in her death and has pleaded not guilty. The couple has a young daughter together. Joseph has been accused of suffocating his wife to death and disposing of her body in order to prevent her from returning to her native China with their child and to avoid a costly divorce.    Police in Missouri are renewing their efforts to locate the body of Mengqi Ji Elledge, 28, who went missing last October and is presumed dead. Her husband, Joseph Elledge, was charged in February with first-degree murder in her death Police had searched for Mengqi's remains with divers, sonar and heavy machinery at the Lamine River near Booneville after cadaver dogs hit on a scent there Police had searched for her remains wi...
Post a Comment
Read more