Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images

Shaquille O’Neal Addresses Recent Comments About Ben Simmons & Mental Health

The Ben Simmons-Philadelphia 76ers saga has finally ended and both parties involved were granted a fresh new start.

The Sixers with NBA superstar James Harden, and Ben Simmons in Brooklyn alongside Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant.

Before that, Ben Simmons hadn’t participated in a Sixers game since Game 7 of the second-round series against the Atlanta Hawks in the previous 2021 NBA playoffs. 

After a hampered trade demand and failure to cooperate with the team during practices and meetings early in the season, Simmons has shifted his focus on working on his mental health and cited this as one of the reasons why he did not intend to appear in a Sixers game.

Various media personalities and former players have criticized Simmons for his behavior, one of the being NBA legend Shaquille O’Neal.

Last week on TNT’s Inside the NBA, Shaq absolutely ripped Simmons, wouldn’t call him by name, and called him “soft” and a “crybaby” who can’t take criticism. This then led to Simmons reaching out to Shaq via DM.

O’Neal now addressed his recent comments about Simmons and mental health, amidst Simmons’ introductory press conference in which he said that his mental health wasn’t pertaining to just the trade, but him having to deal with some things as a person.

“As a Superstar, as a professional NBA player, we don’t always get our way. The problem started when Doc made the comment, he was upset, backlash, and then the mental health thing came in. There is a difference between mental health and mental fortitude. You know, I am not comparing him to me, but you don’t think I have heard we can’t win with Shaq? You don’t think I’ve heard ‘Shaq’s not worth 120 (million)? I heard it all…”