Ben Simmons explains how he deals with criticism



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Ben Simmons explains how he deals with criticism

Brooklyn Nets star guard Ben Simmons says he has accepted that as a star player he may face more criticism than other players. Simmons, the first overall pick of the 2016 NBA draft, has been one of the most criticized players over the last few years.

Last season, Simmons drew lots of criticism for not playing at all. This past weekend, a video of Simmons shooting an air ball in a Brooklyn park went viral. "It finds me all the time," Simmons told ESPN. "And it doesn't f------ stop.

Sometimes I'm even sick of it, but then I'm like, 'OK, I'm Ben Simmons, you know? It comes with being Ben Simmons right now.' Even the other day there was a clip of me air balling a shot at the park. Meanwhile, like 10 guys airballed multiple shots.

So it's like people will find one clip and try to make it that everything -- like Ben can't do [this or that]. Like come on man, you think I'm just airballing every shot? It's not true. But it comes with it, and you got to have tough skin and I realize that, but nah, I can't take everything personally.

It's social media."

Simmons on why he is drawing so much criticism

Last season, Simmons was pretty much criticized by everyone - fans, past and present players. After missing the entire last season, Simmons returned to action this preseason as he is determined to get his career back on the right track.

"Because people know what I can do, what I'm capable of," Simmons said. "I believe that's what it is. Like if I was somebody that wasn't capable of doing certain things, I don't think people would be on my ass as much. And I don't mind it because it kind of motivates me in a way.

Obviously, sometimes it's a lot for anybody to deal with that, but I look at it a little bit like a respect thing, in a way. Because if that wasn't the case then I wouldn't have, there would be no upside to me doing something well.

If I come out and play a great game then you can't say anything, you know? But it's a part of it. That's why it's kind of cool being on a team with these two guys [Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving] because they've been through different things in their careers, where they can kind of relate, because their names always -- something's going on with everybody's name here. I take it for what it is."