Fair point

Yeah I totally agree, you’re proving my point

He wasn’t made for pro ball

Seen multiple different ‘Beasley mentality’ short videos over the last few months. Essentially him pulling funny faces and banging the table with his fists while saying how much money he’ll bet on himself.

Really funny that of all the possible NBA players to pick they chose Michael fucking Beasley lol

I think the nba fans would be shocked at who wins if there was a 1v1 tourney. Like by all accounts on the 2023 Thunder Tre Mann was one of the best (maybe the best) ones player

He was already checked out before the major back injury.

When he was healthy he skipped representing Australia at the Olympics to go watch the Wimbledon with his girlfriend. I don’t understand how history got revised so hard that people have forgotten Simmons was lazy before the back injury.

I’m talking pre back injury! Can’t blame anyone for having a poor motor when they can hardly walk straight without pain.

The total lack of development or even willingness to try on his jumper is most glaring. He didn’t have to be Blake Griffin, turning into high volume 36% 3 point shooter, but players like Bam Adebayo, Evan Mobley and Andre Drummond are at least willing to take a few uncontested ones out there. Even pure centers like Jarrett Allen, Jalen Duren, and Daniel Gafford (who take 0 threes) at least make close to 70% at the line, while Ben languished around 60% and even got worse over time.

I’d say the most fun sixers year in terms of watchability was the year Embiid was hurt and he had the keys. I think guy was miscast his entire career. 

Concerns about his effort were well documented 10 years before the back injury

Oh get the fuck out ROFL. Save the Simmons defense for the judge 😂

Work ethic may not be the best word, since he did indeed improve a lot as an all around defender (though how much of that was just him utilizing his nutso combination of size, coordination, and speed). He seemed to enjoy working on the things he liked and was already good at (like his rim finishing, floaters, and passing), and didn’t seem to want to work on his weaknesses (how could he not at least attempt some threes in a game? Even Ausar Thompson took 24 last season).

that actually makes it worse, not better, he could’ve done that for 15 years

I mean yeah, his defensive iq is pretty bad but he has shown in the past that when he actually tries, he can be a decent one on one defender.

I mean yeah, his defensive iq is pretty bad but he has shown in the past that when he actually tries, he can be a decent one on one defender.

This is why I wanted to trade Wiggins instead of lavine for butler. I yea lavine sucks at d, but at least he gave effort, whereas Wiggins would just check out of entire games. Plus lavine being a spot up shooter playing off butler and KAT would’ve been a rather solid offense

Hopium

I’ve seen the dude play zero defense against college level players.

He’s like a player that invented in all the wrong stats in an RPG. Athletic lob threat, stone hands. Great touch at the rim, has no post moves. Midrange master, has zero handle to get to his spots. Super efficient free throw shooter, doesn’t get to the line. The ideal physical build, afraid of all physicality. Some of the highest IQ teammates of all time, still plays like a rookie. Highs as high as his lows are low, zero consistency.

Ayton completely changed his offensive game last season, to be exactly what people wanted and what works with Luka, Reeves, etc., and was “rewarded” with a salary dump trade to a team that doesn’t need him.

He also played career-low minutes (27.2) and had a career-low USG% last season (16.7%), which explains the lower scoring average. Despite this, he led the league in FG% inside 5FT (.801), and changed his shot profile considerably, taking 58.40% of his total FGA inside 5FT (48.52% of his career FGA came from that range prior to last year, shooting .723).

So he gave up being one of the best and most prolific mid-range shooters in the league (career .449 shooter from 10FT-3PT before last season, consisting of 29.60% his career FGA up to that point), and “feared contact” less than ever by taking more shots close to the basket than ever, and made himself the perfect complimentary running mate offensively for his team’s stars, and nobody seemed to notice, no narratives were changed, and both he and his backup (Jaxson Hayes, coincidentally 2nd in the league in FG% inside 5FT last season) were dumped to pay one guy more than the both of them combined. Forget the Jaylen Brown trade, this is the real analytics-based scandal of this off-season.

Ayton only averaged 12 PPG because he didn’t get ball. This was the lowest usage of his career. Before joining the Lakers he averaged 16&10 his entire career.

We don’t do that here.

Phil Jackson said “he only wants to practice what he’s already good at.”

Sounds like he didnt try to improve his game as much as he could have.

that could arguably be due to not conditioning/rehabbing 

Compared to LeBron, Kobe, etc..? No he really doesn’t. Compared to you or me yes he does.

Probably a better shout. Was never comfortable with my SF choice.

I was struggling at SF basically, so just went for a notoriously bad defender, to be honest.

But you’re right - that may not be fair. Sadiq Bey, maybe? Mikal Bridges?

Probably true for Melo and DJ Augustin.

But Jahlil Okafor could be a ballerina with the ball in the post on offence, and less effective than a witches hat on defence.

Don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone try less on defence than him.

Definitely doesn’t belong here but also makes you think what could have been. 

Dude might be the most naturally talented basketball player I’ve ever watched. He greatly underachieved 

Yes I read the title and am resubmitting my answer exactly as it was.

People like me lol he’s my favorite player. Go fuck yourself.

My answer stands as I said it. I want him to take care of himself the way Blake Griffin did. Since people like you can’t seem to realize the answer was written already, perhaps repeating it may help you.