Mar 28, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Ben Simmons (25) brings the ball up court against the Brooklyn Nets during the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Mar 28, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Ben Simmons (25) brings the ball up court against the Brooklyn Nets during the second quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-Imagn Images
Patrick Beverley is not happy with how Ben Simmons has returned to the NBA, especially with players like Victor Oladipo, Cam Thomas, and Gabe Vincent remaining without jobs.
Speaking on the Pat Bev Show, Beverley openly questioned why Simmons was able to step away from basketball for a year, get himself better conditioned, and return on a one-year deal to the Sacramento Kings while other veterans are still fighting for just another small chance.
“First off, um, I don’t like this at all. I don’t like this at all. I don’t think it’s fair that you can quit the game of basketball and come back. Like, you can quit with not having a ton of success, right? You can quit because the game is hard and it’s stressful, and you’re not playing well, and the fans are on you, and the media is on you. You can quit and have an opportunity to come back.”
“When we’ve been looking at Victor Oladipo, who’s been competing, who’s degraded himself, went to the D-League, right, or G-League. Like, like, we witnessed Oladipo, like, work out in front of a ton of coaches and GMs and writing letters. This is the guy you pick?”
“Like, no discredit from Ben Simmons, you feel me? I’m not with quitting the game of basketball because it’s hard at the time and because, you know, uh, uh, uh, I’m not playing right. I don’t feel right. I, you know, everywhere I go, it’s an issue and an excuse. Like, you know, I’m injured.”
“And I understand injury, but, like, to quit the game of basketball and to come back to get an opportunity. And you got people like Russ who was forced to retire. You got Oladipo who’s competing on whatever, whatever level, trying to get, you know,his way back in. I don’t think that’s fair. I don’t think that’s fair to any of those guys. I don’t want y’all to be thinking I’m hating. So, congrats to Ben Simmons. You took someone’s roster spot who I think, you know, deserves it more than you, if we being totally transparent.”
“Um, and as a hooper, I’m still rooting for you, though. Like, as a hooper, I’m still rooting for you, like, to go out there and prove them wrong.But I don’t like that sh** at all. I don’t like that at all. I don’t think that’s fair. I don’t think it’s fair to the game. I don’t think it’s fair to people who still working, you know, guys. We got Gabe Vincent who don’t have a job, right? We got Cam Thomas who don’t have a job, who, like, putting in that work year after year, and, like, a guy can just quit and come back anytime.”
“I’m not with that.”
Simmons took a year away from the NBA before signing a one-year, $3.5 million deal with the Kings. Beverley made it clear he’s still rooting for Simmons as a player, but he strongly disagrees with the process that allowed him to land the roster spot so quickly.
Beverley’s point hits hardest when he speaks about Victor Oladipo’s comeback attempt. Oladipo has openly documented the amount of work he has been putting in to return to the NBA after multiple serious injuries. He has gone through a lot of recovery and rehabilitation workouts and even wrote an emotional letter to NBA general managers pleading for another chance.
Beverley also mentions Russell Westbrook, who he claims was forced to retire, but it is worth pointing out that there were still a few offers for Russ before he decided to hang it up.
Cam Thomas is also another interesting name. He remains a free agent after last playing for the Milwaukee Bucks, and he has already proven that he can be a legitimate scoring threat at an NBA level.
For Beverley, the issue is less about Simmons specifically and more about opportunity. In his eyes, players who have continued working hard for another NBA chance should not be overlooked for someone who took a break from basketball and returned only when ready.