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NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal wants Ben Simmons to realise his success, but says that, ultimately, “it’s up to him” to reboot his career.
Simmons’ NBA career started with him being billed as the next LeBron James, but it is now best known for his poor display in the 2021 Playoffs, and his half-season holdout at the Philadelphia 76ers as he attempted to force a trade.
He was eventually moved to the Brooklyn Nets in a saga that saw him regularly roasted by four-time NBA champion O’Neal, who is in Australia for a live on-stage interview on Thursday (7pm AEST), which can be ordered on Main Event, Kayo Sports, or Foxtel.
Speaking to the Herald Sun ahead of the sold out ‘Evening with Shaquille O’Neal’, the former NBA MVP said Simmons is a “fine player” who he wishes well, but won’t back down from his criticism.
“He’s had personal problems but I want him to succeed and I’ve been hard on him because I feel as an elder statesman it’s my job.” O’Neal said.
“I know what it takes to get to the top, top, top level and that guy knows what it takes to be great.”
He added: “He’s had some personal problems and I don’t like to measure that so I wish him well and hope that he can come back strong.”
In January, O’Neal called Simmons a “crybaby” and said that he had lost all respect for the Australian for not accepting constructive criticism.
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Later, with Simmons sitting on the sidelines for the Nets, O’Neal poured doubt on the extent of the point guard’s back injury.
“We call this a punk move,” he said at the time. “Listen, if you’re not ready to play, you’d 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.’ … If you’re not going to play, don’t say you’re going to play.”
Meanwhile, O’Neal told the publication that he will speak to NBA commissioner Adam Silver about bringing a match to Australia.
He said that given basketball is a “global game”, the United States shouldn’t have a monopoly on NBA matches.
“I will ask him about Australia and I won’t speak for Mr Silver but it will get done,” O’Neal told the Herald Sun.
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