Photo Credit: AP Photo/Matt Slocum

Player-Turned-Analyst Wally Szczerbiak Calls Ben Simmons The Most Overrated Player In The NBA: “Scared To Get On The Court”

After being drafted as the No.1 overall pick, Ben Simmons was penciled in as a franchise cornerstone for the Philadelphia 76ers alongside superstar big man Joel Embiid. That seemed the case before Simmons flamed out against the Atlanta Hawks in the 2021 NBA playoffs.

Simmons’ career then took a wild turn from there. Eventually, the three-time All-Star was traded to the Brooklyn Nets for former MVP James Harden at the trade deadline last season. 

While Simmons got his desired fresh new start, this season hasn’t exactly been a smooth sailing one for him. On the year, Simmons is only putting up 5.6 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game on 44.2% shooting from the field and with no made threes.

Talking about Simmons’ level of play, former NBA All-Star and current New York Knicks TV analyst Wally Szczerbiak pulled no punches criticizing the 26-year old Nets point guard, exclaiming that Simmons is the most overrated player in the NBA. 

Per New York Daily News:

“Most overrated player is Ben Simmons. It’s not even close,” Wally Szczerbiak said Monday night on MSG Network.” The guy couldn’t even play in the playoffs two years ago. Then he was scared to get on the court all of last year. The guy is scared to shoot. He’s the first pick in the NBA draft and you can’t even get him on the basketball floor.”

“He’s supposed to be a good defender. He was playing for the Brooklyn Nets and they were giving up 125 points per game and they got their coach (Steve Nash) fired because they couldn’t stop anybody,” Szczerbiak said. “Ben Simmons is so overrated you can’t even put him in the game anymore. It’s a little bit of a shame.”