Kyrie Irving on Ben Simmons' criticism: 'Give him a f---ing chance' / News - Basketnews.com

Kyrie Irving criticized the media, saying that Ben Simmons hasn't played for two years and that he should get a chance to get back to being at his best.

Credit: USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix Credit USA TODAY Sports - Scanpix

Ben Simmons' start of the 2022-23 NBA season hasn't been as successful as probably hoped. After getting traded to the Brooklyn Nets from the Philadelphia 76ers last year, the 2.08-meter guard has been struggling during the first week.

Kyrie Irving

MIN:38.9PTS:29.6 (55.03%)REB:5.4As:4.4ST:1.6BL:1.4TO:2.2GM:5ProfileNBA2022/2023

Asked about his teammate's rough beginning, Kyrie Irving defended Simmons.

"If we're going to come in and be honest as a team, I'm not trying to just be critical of what Ben's done right or done wrong every single night. He's a basketball player, he's a professional, he has the skills to be a great professional, he's done in the past, and he hasn't played for two years," Irving started off.

"You guys come in here asking what about Ben, what about Ben? He hasn't played in two years, give him a f---ing chance," Kyrie got emotional. "We stay on him, you just stay on him. We're here to just give him positive affirmations while he's out here and just let him hoop."

Before this season, Simmons' last game was on June 20th, 2021 in the playoffs. The player sat out the entire 2021-22 season due to various reasons related to injuries and personal reasons.

This season, Simmons is currently averaging 5.6 points, 6.2 rebounds, 6.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game for the Nets.

"While he's hooping and getting back into it, we're going to have to really gel as a team in order to learn how to win as a group. It's not an individual job to go out here and be a superman. He doesn't have to. There's no such thing, it's made up anyway," Irving explained.

"I'd like to say a phrase my dad used to say - a hero is nothing but a sandwich. Everybody wants to be the hero here in basketball but it's a team game," the star guard concluded.

Kyrie Irving's full comment:

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