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Wally Szczerbiak calls Ben Simmons ‘the most overrated NBA player’

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James Foglio
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James Foglio Sports Editor

James is a Basketball Insiders contributor. He earned his bachelor's degree in English and Creative Writing from Southern New Hampshire University. James enjoys watching sports and helping gamblers win money.

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Sports Editor

Updated09 Nov 2022

Knicks Wally Szczerbiak calls Nets Ben Simmons 'the most overrated NBA player'

Former NBA player turned New York Knicks analyst Wally Szczerbiak is frustrated with the Brooklyn Nets this season, especially with three-time All-Star guard Ben Simmons.

A few NBA betting sites show the Nets with the sixth-best odds to win the championship in 2023. However, several sportsbooks are giving the Milwaukee Bucks and Boston Celtics higher odds in the Eastern Conference.

“Most overrated player is Ben Simmons. It’s not even close,” Wally Szczerbiak said Monday night on MSG Network. “The guy couldn’t even play in the playoffs two years ago.

Then, he was scared to get on the court all of last year. The guy is scared to shoot. He’s the first pick in the NBA draft and you can’t even get him on the basketball floor.”

The Knicks analyst made a number of fair points. Through seven games this season, Simmons is averaging career lows of 5.6 points, 6 rebounds, 6.6 assists, and 1.1 steals.

Former Knicks wing Wally Szczerbiak says Ben Simmons is ‘the most overrated NBA player’ in the league today

If Simmons is not overrated to fans, he’s definitely overpaid. In July 2019, the guard signed a five-year, $155 million contract extension with the Philadelphia 76ers.

This season, the guard is earning $35,448,672. He will make as much as $40,338,144 in the 2024-25 season. Simmons missed all of last season due to a contract dispute, back injury, and mental health problems.

In February, the 76ers traded Simmons, Seth Curry, Andre Drummond, a 2022 first-round draft pick and a 2027 first-round draft pick to the Nets for James Harden and Paul Millsap.

Multiple NBA analysts thought the guard would make his season debut in the Nets’ first-round playoff series against the Boston Celtics. However, he never made an appearance.

“He’s supposed to be a good defender,” continued Wally Szczerbiak. “He was playing for the Brooklyn Nets, and they were giving up 125 points per game and they got their coach [Steve Nash] fired because they couldn’t stop anybody.

“Ben Simmons is so overrated, you can’t even put him in the game anymore. It’s a little bit of a shame.”

Additionally, the Nets are 4-6 right now. They play the Knicks tonight at 7:30 p.m. ET. This matchup will air live from Barclays Center on ESPN.