Danny Green explains the deeper issues behind Ben Simmons’ refusal to score in the 2021 playoffs: “That was the beginning of the end for him” originally appeared on Basketball Network.
Ben Simmons‘ first four seasons in the NBA saw him play so well that many believed he was on an unmistakable trajectory of greatness. A 6’10” point guard from Australia who the Philadelphia 76ers selected first overall in the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons was a legitimate impact player on both ends of the floor.
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A gifted playmaker who used his towering height and otherworldly athleticism to create easy opportunities for his teammates and defend multiple positions, the sky seemed to be the limit for Simmons. However, all that changed in Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference semis against the Atlanta Hawks, when the former Rookie of the Year seemingly lost his mojo and refused to even attempt a wide-open layup.
As confused as everyone watching that game was, Ben’s former teammate Danny Green shared that they were just as perplexed.
A joy to play with
Green, a 15-year veteran and a three-time NBA champion, shared that he signed a multi-year contract to play for the Sixers because of his synergy with Simmons. With the left-handed guard making plays, the 6’6″ wingman constantly got wide-open looks, attempting a career-high 6.3 three-pointers per game during the regular season.
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“I actually signed back because of Ben. I like playing with Ben. I had my career high in three-point attempts playing with Ben. I was getting six a game. He’s a hell of a player, man,” Green said on the “All The Smoke” podcast.
Danny revealed that while Simmons’ struggles today — he has played a total of 108 games in the last five seasons — involve physical ailments, his troubles during the later part of his Sixers’ stint involved his mental well-being.
Free-throw struggles
However, that series against the Hawks exposed many of Aussie’s vulnerabilities. After a stellar regular season, where he finished second in the Defensive Player of the Year race and was named an All-Star and a member of the All-Defensive First Team, Simmons suddenly couldn’t find his rhythm or confidence in the second round, especially at the free-throw line.
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Although he shot 61 percent from the charity stripe in the regular season, he just lost all hope in his shooting abilities. He shot a dismal 33 percent from the line against the Hawks. As Atlanta continued to intentionally foul him throughout the series, he fell deeper into a mental funk that ultimately affected his overall performance on the court.
“I think he just didn’t want to shoot free throws. We were like, ‘Yo, take the free throws. Shoot them. We don’t care, man. We’re getting attempts. They’re going to foul out. You’re going to foul some people out. We’re going to be in the bonus. Joel gets to the free line. Other guys will get to the free throw line,'” Green recalled telling the prodigious guard.
Danny revealed that before Game 7, Ben faced intense scrutiny after being in contact with someone who initially received a false positive COVID-19 test result.
“There was a lot going on that morning with shootaround. We weren’t sure if he was going to play. It was a false positive, I think. Somebody near him had a false positive — like one of his, masseuse — you know, a massage therapist caught a false positive. So there was a lot going on that morning for him and with him. And we weren’t sure if he was going to play. And that might have messed with him throughout the game,” Green shared.
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The tension peaked during a pivotal moment late in the game. With the Sixers trailing by two and just three minutes left on the clock, Simmons broke free from his defender, leaving him wide open with a clear path for a layup or dunk. Yet, instead of seizing the opportunity, he passed the ball to Matisse Thybulle, who was subsequently fouled.
“That play in real time — everybody in the building was like, ‘What — what the f**k is going on?” And then I was just like, ‘Did that just happen? Like, did he just do that?'” Green conveyed. “That was the beginning of the end for him.”
Since then, the three-time All-Star and two-time All-Defensive Team member has been a shell of his former self. After being viewed as a foundational piece of the Sixers alongside Joel Embiid, he has bounced around from Brooklyn to the L.A. Clippers, where he played only 16 minutes a game.
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This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on May 30, 2025, where it first appeared.