According to multiple reports from different media members over the last week, Ben Simmons was fully expected to make his Brooklyn Nets debut in a do-or-die situation in Game 4, with the Nets facing an 3-0 series deficit against the Boston Celtics.
Instead, on Sunday, the Nets listed Simmons as out for Game 4 on the NBA’s official injury report.
Simmons has been widely criticized for the sudden change of plans, and NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley called Simmons out on TNT.
Barkley argued that even if Simmons attempted to play a few minutes, he’d earn much more respect from his teammates for trying to give his all in a crucial situation.
O’Neal went off on Simmons:
“Now that they lost (Game 3), ‘my back hurts.’ Well, if your back hurts, get some Icy Hot. I’ll send it to you. We call this a punk move.
Listen, if you’re not ready to play, you would get more respect from the people if you just say ‘I’m not ready to play.’ And don’t say nothing else. Don’t be shooting and saying ‘I’m coming back; I’m going to do this.’ That was a punk move.
…. We all know what that is. Ballers know what that is. Everybody else can be (saying) ‘oh, he’s not ready,’ but us, guys that live this life, we know exactly what you’re doing, buddy.”
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Nets vs. Celtics Game 4: Stream, lineups, injury reports and broadcast info for Monday
