Ben Simmons responds to airball critics: 'You think I'm airballing every shot?' / News - Basketnews.com

Ben Simmons looks at social media attention to him as a testament to his playing ability. The player would like it to stop but understands it's part of being Ben Simmons.

Credit: Reuters-Scanpix Credit Reuters-Scanpix

A viral clip of Ben Simmons airballing a shot in an event for Brooklyn Nets fans spiraled the social media.

Ben Simmons

Position:SF, PFAge:26Height:208 cmWeight:104 kgBirth place:AustraliaProfileNewsStatistics

The Australian player decided to address the elephant in the room with ESPN after a practice yesterday.

"It finds me all the time and it doesn't f---ing stop. Sometimes I'm even sick of it, but then I'm like, 'OK, I'm Ben Simmons, you know? It comes with being Ben Simmons right now'. Even the other day there was a clip of me air balling a shot at the park. Meanwhile, like 10 guys airballed multiple shots," the player said.

"It's like people will find one clip and try to make it that everything -- like Ben can't do [this or that]. Like come on man, you think I'm just airballing every shot? It's not true," Simmons continued. "But it comes with it, and you got to have tough skin and I realize that, but nah, I can't take everything personally. It's social media."

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Asked about the possible reasons behind the seemingly constant criticism, Simmons thinks it is because of the level of his play.

"People know what I can do, what I'm capable of. I believe that's what it is. Like if I was somebody that wasn't capable of doing certain things, I don't think people would be on my ass as much," he explained. "And I don't mind it because it kind of motivates me in a way. Obviously, sometimes it's a lot for anybody to deal with that, but I look at it a little bit like a respect thing, in a way."

Last night in the preseason game against the Milwaukee Bucks, Simmons scored 7 points, grabbed 8 rebounds, dished out 10 assists, and made 2 steals in 28 minutes of play.

After playing the last preseason game against the Minnesota Timberwolves Friday night, the Nets will start the regular season with a matchup against the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday night.

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