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'What the f**k': Green recalls moment Simmons can't escape
Ben Simmons #25 and Danny Green #14 of the Philadelphia 76ers hi-five during the game against the Washington Wizards on January 6, 2021 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Photo: Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
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Former NBA three-point sniper and three-time champion Danny Green has recalled the moment he believed was the "beginning of the end" for Australian superstar Ben Simmons.
Appearing on an episode of All the Smoke with Matt Barnes and Stephen Jackson last year, Green spoke about the shock he and his Philadelphia 76ers teammates felt when Simmons passed up an open dunk in Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks.
The three-time NBA All-Star instead chose to pass to Matisse Thybulle, who was fouled, as the 76ers ended up being eliminated by the Hawks.
It's a moment Simmons can't escape, even five years on, but is a story of the former No.1 draft pick's career full of ups and downs.
"I was (on the team) and I actually signed back because of Ben. I like playing with Ben, I had my career high and three-point attempts playing with Ben. He's a hell of a player man," Green said.
"I was there, I strained my calf that series, we were up 2-1... He had the dunk and passed it up to Matisse, that play in real time, everybody in the building was like what what the f**k? Did that just happen?
"A lot of people were concerned like what was going on?
"So then he got a lot of stuff criticism in the media after that and then Doc (Rivers), like I said something which you know, 'I don't know if he's going to be a championship point guard.
"But ultimately led to him want to be traded after that. Yeah, that was the beginning of the end for him."
The former LSU college basketball star then had a stalemate with the 76ers organisation going into the next season before he was traded to the Brooklyn Nets for James Harden, who despite public commentary, froze a significant amount more than Simmons ever did in his playoffs career and later asked to be dealt to the Los Angeles Clippers anyway.
Simmons later joined the Clippers midway through last season afetr being bought out by the Nets and is a free agent now despite receiving several offers, including a veteran minimum contract from the New York Knicks.
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