Ben Simmons’ fall from grace still feels unreal. Once the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons was projected as a franchise cornerstone for years to come. Injuries, relentless scrutiny, and unresolved questions about his offensive limitations gradually eroded that promise, and by the end of the 2024–25 season, he had effectively vanished from the NBA landscape – without a clear explanation or a new opportunity.

That absence made the jab all the more jarring. During Saturday night’s broadcast in Cleveland, a Cavaliers commentator delivered a cutting remark at Simmons’ expense. Amidst the Wolves’ 134-146 loss, their 38-year-old forward, Joe Ingles, scored a corner 3. Ingles, just like Simmons, is an Australian hooper.

At this moment, Cavs broadcaster Eric Collins took his chance to grill Ben Simmons. As soon as Ingles hit the 3-pointer, Collins said: “The greatest left-handed Australian 3-point shooter, just a whisker better than Ben Simmons.” Brutal! Here’s what the broadcaster meant…

Eric Collins jokingly hailed Joe Ingles as Australia’s best left-handed three-point shooter, edging out Ben Simmons by a tiny margin. Seems like a clear tongue-in-cheek comparison given Simmons’ struggles from deep – one that instantly reframed a routine shot into a reminder of how far Simmons’ reputation has fallen.

Meanwhile, Ingles chipped in 5 points and 3 assists in 6 minutes during the course of the game. Unfortunately, the night didn’t go in favor of the Wolves, despite their lead in the first half.

However, under Donovan Mitchell’s leadership, Cleveland made a comeback in the second half, posting a whopping 47-point Q4 while Minnesota pushed through 43.

Now, coming back to Ben Simmons. Recently, LeBron James’ agent, Rich Paul, explained the former No.1 pick’s downfall.

Ben Simmons is almost a lost name in the NBA

Ben Simmons once appeared to be on a Hall of Fame path. However, everything shifted in 2021. In Game 7 against Atlanta, he passed up a wide-open layup for the Philadelphia 76ers. Injuries followed, but more importantly, confidence faded. Now, Rich Paul told Max Kellerman – Simmons had elite tools, yet felt content; as a result, the hunger disappeared.

“Everything that Ben wanted to happen for Ben happened. He was the No. 1 pick in the draft, he was Rookie of the Year, and he was a perennial All-Star. He was All-NBA; he got the max contract,” Paul noted.

“There’s two ways to go about this. Either you love what the game brings you, or you love the game,” Paul also said. “And when you play this game for so long as a kid, and most kids don’t say, ‘I want to get to the NBA, and I want to be great for 15 years. ‘ No, they dream of making it to the NBA.”

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Ben Simmons remains the NBA’s strangest echo. Now, only jokes follow him in his absence. However, Rich Paul’s words linger. Talent arrived early, and that hunger faded later.

Thus, Simmons exists as a cautionary tale, discussing and defining what promise without obsession becomes.