The most bizarre subplot coming out of this first-round playoff series between the Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets is the unlikely feud involving Jared Dudley and Ben Simmons.
On Wednesday Dudley spoke with reporters about Simmons, highlighting the strengths and weaknesses of his game. It was an illuminating breakdown of last year's Rookie of the Year, but the only part that people seemed to take away from Dudley’s comments was that he called him "average" after slowing him down in the half court.
"I think that Ben Simmons is a great player in transition" Dudley said. "Once you slow him up in the half court, I think he’s average when it comes to that."
Earlier today, Simmons responded to the "average" remark, saying, "It's coming from Jared Dudley, c'mon."
According to Richard Jefferson, this mindset about Simmons' current game is a sentiment shared by "the entire NBA." Jefferson appeared on SiriusXM NBA Radio with Jared Greenberg and Brendan Haywood on Thursday, and explained why the league agrees with Dudley's take on Simmons’ weakness in the half court.
"No, no, Ben, that’s coming from the entire NBA. That’s where that’s coming from. The entire NBA thinks that," Jefferson said, perFor The Win. "Like Ben.. he’s a, I don’t want to say Hall of Fame, but I’m saying, this guy’s a stud. We know. He’s a No. 1 pick, rookie of the year. All of these accolades. But he’s not that good in the half court, right? That’s just a fact. I’m not saying he’s a liability or any of these things, but he is excellent – excellent – in the open court. He is excellent in transition, one of the best in the NBA."
"In the half court with 12 seconds to go? I don’t necessarily think that I would want the ball in his hands," Jefferson adds. "He doesn’t want to shoot free throws, he doesn’t want to do that."
With the series headed to Game 3 tonight in Brooklyn, Nets fans aren't missing out on an opportunity to pile on Simmons, posting these flyers outside of the Barclays Center.
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