Ben Simmons Subtly Demands Apology After Stephen A. Smith Bashed Him

Simmons, who has been dealing with a herniated disc in his back, underwent a successful microdiscectomy surgery on Thursday in Los Angeles, USA Today reports. The Brooklyn Nets star is expected to recover in three to four months and be ready for the start of next season.

Simmons shared a photo on social media after surgery and thanked his fans for the well wishes.

Ben Simmons is out of surgery 🙌

(via @BenSimmons25) pic.twitter.com/jysfjFp3Bk

— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) May 5, 2022

As Blavity previously reported, Simmons has been facing criticism in the past year after he decided that he doesn’t want to play for the Philadelphia 76ers. The All-Star was traded to the Nets in February, but still missed the rest of the season while recovering from his back injury.

Smith has been one of the most vocal critics of the star athlete.

“Ben Simmons might also be the weakest, most pathetic excuse for a professional athlete we have ever seen in, not just American history, but the history of sports,” Smith said on ESPN’s First Take. “I can’t think of a professional athlete that has come across more pathetic than this man.”

Simmons, however, received support from friends, including Jamie Foxx.

“That is completely unfair @bensimmons has a family this man has people that love him and this man just plays basketball but to be dragged through the mud like this is unfair,” Foxx said on social media.