The lasting image of Ben Simmons as a Philadelphia 76er is not a pleasant one: the much-maligned attacker passing the ball under the rim with a much shorter defender on him in a crucial Game Seven playoff loss at home. What followed that moment was a head-spinning offseason filled with finger-pointing, reports of mental health issues, and a city turning on their once bright star, leaving Ben wanting out of Philly.
It was a messy situation, and whether or not you believe all the blame unfairly fell on Ben’s shoulders, his time as a Sixer is seen as a failure. However, failure often comes from great expectations, and Ben had lofty hopes placed upon him as he entered the league.
Simmons grew from an unknown international prospect to a talent who crushed competition stateside. He was dubbed the next LeBron James. He was viewed as the final missing piece for a rebuilding franchise searching for its first title in decades.
Let’s meet those versions of Ben Simmons in the prism.
