Stephen A. Smith Rips Into Ben Simmons Over Latest Clippers Drama
It’s happening again—Ben Simmons is back in the headlines, and not for anything you’d call a comeback. This time, it’s Stephen A. Smith turning up the heat, and let me tell you, he did not hold back. Simmons, now with the Los Angeles Clippers, was trying to fly under the radar. But when head coach Tyronn Lue publicly mentioned that he has to remind Simmons to score, Stephen A. saw red—and it spiraled from there.
Now, this isn’t new territory. Smith has been one of Simmons’ loudest critics since that brutal collapse in the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, where Simmons passed up an open dunk and the Sixers’ playoff dreams vanished. That moment still echoes whenever his name comes up, and Stephen A. has never let it slide. To him, Simmons has all the tools but none of the drive.
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On a recent episode of First Take , Smith reacted to Lue’s comment by saying something that really stings: “Ben Simmons has been stealing money.” He wasn't joking. He doubled down, pointing out how ridiculous it is that an NBA player—especially one with Simmons' natural gifts and a max contract—has to be told to shoot the ball. I mean, in what world does that make sense? According to Smith, this isn’t about ability anymore—it’s about attitude, about willingness. And in his eyes, Simmons just doesn’t have it.
And honestly, it’s awkward. It’s awkward for fans, teammates, coaches, and even for analysts like Smith who want to see greatness but just keep getting let down. He called Simmons “pathetic” for sitting out Game 4 of the Nets-Celtics playoff series back in 2023. And now here we are again, different jersey, same conversation.
Simmons’ move to the Clippers was supposed to be a chance for a fresh start. A quieter role, maybe even a chance to redeem himself. But even with the spotlight dimmed, somehow, the criticism finds him. And not without reason—Lue’s comment wasn’t a minor observation, it was a red flag. If your coach has to encourage you to do the bare minimum offensively in the playoffs, that says a lot.
The Clippers are gearing up to take on the Denver Nuggets in the first round of the postseason, and they’re going to need everything and everyone locked in—especially against a monster like Nikola Jokic. But with Simmons, you never really know what version you're going to get. And that uncertainty is what drives analysts like Stephen A. over the edge.
At the end of the day, this is about expectations. Simmons was once seen as a generational talent. And maybe he still is in some ways. But talent without fire? That’s just wasted potential. And that’s exactly what Stephen A. was pointing at—through all the frustration, all the sarcasm, all the shade—he’s basically saying, “We expected more.”
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