Stephen A. Smith Criticizes Kings' Signing of Ben Simmons
Reacting to the playmaker's one-year deal with Sacramento, the ESPN analyst argued that Simmons' decline means he should be paying the team instead.
Ben Simmons' return to the NBA on a one-year contract with the Sacramento Kings has drawn sharp criticism from ESPN analyst Stephen A. Smith, capturing the lingering frustration surrounding the former All-Star's career trajectory.
Speaking on ESPN's First Take, as reported by BasketNews, Smith voiced his disapproval of the move, arguing that Simmons should actually be the one paying the Kings given his steep decline since his time with the Philadelphia 76ers.
Smith lamented the contrast between Simmons' current standing and the peak abilities he displayed earlier in his career. At 6-foot-10, Simmons once stood out as one of the league's most versatile talents, boasting elite ambidextrous skill, high-level ball-handling, exceptional passing, and premier defense—traits that have faded into the background following his tumultuous departure from Philadelphia and subsequent struggles.