Miami Heat's Erik Spoelstra Lashes Out At Critics Of Brooklyn Nets' Ben Simmons

Brooklyn Nets forward Ben Simmons was among the NBA's most scrutinized players the past two years. Last year he played only 42 games because of a back injury, which caused him to miss the entire 2021-22 season.

He was often ridiculed by fans for his lack of his play but Miami Heat coach Erik Spoelstra came to the defense of Spoelstra. The Heat play the Nets Nov. 1 in the first of consecutive games between the teams.

Simmons was considered among the league's top players after being the No. 1 draft pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016. He has teamed with Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Jimmy Butler and Joel Embiid, but has often faced the most ridicule.

"It's great for a player to get healthy," Spoelstra said earlier this month. "There's always so much criticism out there, a lot of noise. If you're not healthy, you're just unfairly judged so many times. He's moving great. He's always been a unique talent, somebody that size, that speed, a guy who can defend one through five."

The Nets are just hoping Simmons can revert to the form that made him the 2018 Rookie of the Year (he missed his first season because of injury), a three-time All-Star and made him one of the league's most versatile players.

Shandel Richardson covers the Miami Heat for Inside The Heat.

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