Nets’ Ben Simmons ridiculed after passing open lay-up: ‘borderline unplayable’

Brooklyn Nets star Ben Simmons came under renewed scrutiny Monday night as the team lost 124-106 to the New York Knicks for the first time since January 2020.

Simmons, who is in the middle of a five-year, $177.2 million deal, came off the bench and played 13 minutes as he tried to cope with knee pain and outside criticism for not doing justice to the money he is making became. But the votes didn’t go away during the game against the Knicks.

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February 13, 2023; New York, New York, United States; Brooklyn Nets forward Joe Harris (12) and guard Ben Simmons (10) help Cameron Johnson (2) up after a foul by New York Knicks guard RJ Barrett (9) in the second quarter at Madison Square Garden. (Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports)

In the first quarter, Simmons received a bounce pass from Cam Johnson and had a lane to the basket. Instead of finishing at the basket, he threw the ball to Nic Claxton at the last moment. Claxton tried to get through the Knicks defenders but missed the shot.

NBA fans were confused.

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Simmons was 1-of-2 off the floor and finished the game with two points, three rebounds and two assists. He hasn’t hit double digits since Jan. 22.

Nets coach Jacque Vaughn opened up about Simmons’ role.

New York Knicks guard Josh Hart (3) drives to the basket while Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons (10) and Knicks forward Obi Toppin (1) look on during the second half of an NBA basketball game Monday, February 13, 2023 in New York. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

“There’s going to be some work that we have to do,” Vaughn told reporters via SNY. “Because you’re just looking at what the lineups could possibly look like. You put another big one next to Ben and then have to figure out what the distance is around him. If you then put a playmaker next to him, then you have to find out what Ben looks like without the basketball. Then when you grow up with Ben, you have to find out if you can rebound enough with him.

“So the challenges are ahead of us. We will look at them directly. We’ll find out. We have the staff to figure it out, having a group and running with a group, we’ll figure that part out, but you see the challenges ahead.

Simmons told reporters Monday morning before the game he wasn’t sure what his role was.

Brooklyn Nets guard Ben Simmons looks on prior to an NBA basketball game against the New York Knicks Monday, February 13, 2023 in New York. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

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“Everything has changed throughout the year so it’s hard to understand what’s going on, but hopefully we’ll find some rhythm and consistency,” he said of the New York Daily News. “It is different. It’s a different experience [coming off the bench]. Whatever the team needs from us to win, I’m ready to do it.”