Despite the fact that the new season is now already in full swing, the Philadelphia 76ers and Ben Simmons' camp have yet to find a resolution to their predicament. The former Rookie of the Year has yet to suit up for the Sixers this term as he continues to try and force his way out of the team.
Former Sixers big man Dwight Howard, who now plies his trade with the Los Angeles Lakers, has now spoken out about the Simmons saga in Philly. Howard was quick to point out the fact that Simmons is currently dealing with some concerning mental health issues. While there are some who believe that this is all a ploy from the 25-year-old, Howard believes that Simmons is actually going through a rough patch right now:
“It’s difficult to talk about mental health for a lot of people,” Howard said, via Tyler R. Tynes of GQ. “You don’t want everybody in ya business. On the other end, if you talk about this kind of stuff, it’s gonna bring a lot of attention, and it’s not always good. Everybody doesn’t have the right intentions and you have to watch what you say and do in the public eye. I know for him: that was a real tough situation because he’s dealing with a lot at home and with his family.”
“He’s done the best job he can. I don’t think the Philly fans have really treated him fairly throughout this whole situation based off what they heard in the media,” he said. “They feel like he’s obligated to them. But what if this was your son or daughter or one of your friends dealing with what Ben’s dealing with? How would you handle it? How would you feel?”
Howard went on to explain the truth behind his empathetic approach towards his former teammates. Not only does he feel obliged to come to Ben's defense because of the fact that they formed a bond during their time together in Philly, but perhaps more importantly, it's because Howard himself is able to relate to Simmons' current situation:
“I know exactly what he’s going through,” Howard explained. “It’s a learning phase. I don’t think people understand how difficult it is to be an 18 year old kid to come into a world like this. It’s a different reality being in the NBA. Ben is young and being the face of a franchise going through changes. And everything you do will be publicized. All your mistakes, all your failures. When you do something bad, they put that out there more. The whole world sees it and they judge you based off your mistakes. All of us have problems we deal with on the daily. I don’t think people really and truly understand that part and they get offended when players don’t wanna talk or won’t do certain things.”
As he implied above, Howard was also once the face of a franchise at a very young age. He was just 19 when he entered the NBA as the first overall pick of the Orlando Magic. Howard instantly made waves in the league, but over time, he too went through several trials during his time as Orlando's cornerstone superstar.
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This is exactly why Dwight Howard has an understanding of Simmons' current state of mind. Howard was also made it abundantly clear that in spite of all the negativity, he will always offer his full support for his former Sixers teammate:
“With Ben, how can you speak on a situation when you don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors? It’s a lot of growth he’s had to go through,” he continued. “It’s very tough to be in the spotlight and deal with some of these things, especially when you feel like you’re alone. People say he isn’t where he needs to be as a player, but I’m proud of his growth. I’m always gonna stick up for him, he was my teammate. At the end of the day, even if we don’t play on the same team, you still my brother.”
Howard isn't exactly the most well-loved individual around the NBA. He has his fair share of naysayers who continue to downplay all that he has achieved throughout his career. Say what you want about Dwight, but one thing you cannot deny is that he's the type of person who won't turn his back on his friends — regardless of the situation.
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