Why, Ben? This is the question I’ve been dying to ask you. You requesting a trade felt like a slap in the face, then you filed a grievance to get money you don’t deserve. That felt like a roundhouse kick to the face.
We supported you until the very end. I personally have several shirts, jerseys, and even a hat from Lids with your signature stitched onto it. When the media and non-Philly basketball fans started making noise, us Philly fans did everything we could to be louder than them. They claimed you were overrated and we pulled up stats to prove them wrong. You refused to shoot in-game, especially in the playoffs. We know you were working on it every offseason because we’d always see the videos of you shooting in a random gym. Why wouldn’t you shoot in the game?
Last season, the Sixers were the #1 seed and destined to make the Eastern Conference Finals for the first time since 2001. We had no issues going up against Washington in the first round and handled business in five games, but Atlanta was a problem. You just didn’t shoot at all, not even layups. Speaking of layups, that’s the nail in this drama-filled coffin. Down by two with seconds left in the fourth quarter and Trae Young guarding you, you passed the ball to Matisse Thybulle instead of going for the wide-open dunk. Why?
The biggest “why?” I have is why do you think you deserve the money? You didn’t play a single game because you refused to play for the organization. I don’t get paid if I miss a day of work, so why should you? To say you disappointed the fanbase is a massive and generous understatement.
I’ll see you when the Nets come to Philly, if you even decide to play.
