The future of the 2022 Brooklyn Nets is not looking bright at this time.
After assurance that newly-acquired star Ben Simmons, who hasn’t yet played a game this season, was going to play for the Nets in Game 4 on Monday night, the world has now learned that Simmons will, indeed, be out for the game.
Simmons has been suffering with a herniated disc in his back this season, and he hasn’t played an NBA game in the past 18 months. Now, with the Nets’ season on the line as they battle the Celtics in a do-or-die game tonight at the Barclays Center, down 0-3, the defense-oriented player will be unable to assist a defense-poor Nets squad.
.@stephenasmith reacts to Ben Simmons being out for Game 4:
“I feel bad for anybody who was his teammate. He quit on LSU, he quit on the Philadelphia 76ers and now, he ain’t showing up for the Brooklyn Nets.” pic.twitter.com/wrOrgCLziP
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) April 24, 2022
“Your immediate reaction is he just doesn’t want to play in a series that’s 3-0,” ESPN’s Brian Windhorst said. “I’ll be honest with you, that was my first reaction. When I talked to people involved, [the Nets] were exasperated. They said he woke up, his back hurt and he wasn’t able to play. There wasn’t much more to say. They’re pretty much waving the white flag on this one. It’s extraordinarily disappointing.”
Former Indiana Pacer Reggie Miller publicly bashed Simmons for opting to not play in a crucial Game 4, saying that Simmons has ‘zero competitive fire’.
Cmon MAN!!! Out for Game 4 when it was rumored you were going to make your debut. This dude has ZERO competitive 🔥.. As small a chance as the Nets have to come back in this series, you still have KD and Kyrie, all you need is to win ONE game and take it from there.. #ManUp pic.twitter.com/Y5smcnQkqZ
— Reggie Miller (@ReggieMillerTNT) April 24, 2022
Ben Simmons has officially completed the biggest heist in NBA history. He really sat out an entire season! Carry on…
— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) April 24, 2022
Former Celtic and now-TV analyst Kendrick Perkins bashed the Nets for their performance in Game 3 against a squabbling Celtics squad. “The Celtics have snatched the Nets’ soul,” he said. “They’re punking them, they punked KD, they done made [sic] Kevin Durant quit. He had no interest whatsoever in playing this game. He was not engaged.”
Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving have essentially been shut down by the Celtics this series thus far, and no NBA team has ever recovered from an 0-3 deficit. It’s sufficient to say that the nail has been planted in the coffin, and, barring a miracle comeback, the star-powered sensation that is the 2022 Brooklyn Nets may finally be squandered tonight.
What do you think of Ben Simmons opting out of Game 4, when his team is on the line? Let us know, by either leaving a reaction below or by sending us a tweet at @celebsecrets.
