A few weeks back I wrote an article about Ben Simmons posting a picture with Kevin Hart out in California while he was working out in the gym. I was hopeful that Hart, a minority owner of the 76ers and Philadelphia native, was out there to talk some sense into Simmons in returning to the 76ers and put aside all the nonsense that has unfolded over the summer. That obviously wasn’t the case. Hart was on Showtime Basketball and a new video clip was posted to tease the show. 

Here’s the video so you can watch for yourself: 

Quick Excerpt for those at work: 

“I’ll say this on record; Ben Simmons is a fucking star. Philadelphia, man, we’re a different city. A friend of mine, he’s had this joke, where he was at a football game, and at halftime, the guy’s got a frisbee and he’s just throwing it. The dog is supposed to be catching the frisbee. The dog dropped it a couple times, they start booing the fucking dog. It’s a dog! Philadelphia is just a different city, man. You gotta let players play like they play. He got there by playing how he plays. Granted, this a three (point) shooting time in the NBA. That ain’t Ben. He’s not that guy. He’s not that guy. Now, because of the media and how they, you know, position things, well somehow we forgot about all the good that he did. Wasn’t he an All-Star? Wasn’t he all-defensive team? What are we talking about?”

“I don’t like that in this time today we forget so fast. We forget so fast. That’s what this generation prides itself on.”

So basically, Hart, a Philly guy, just threw out a bunch of crap defending Ben Simmons and completely ignoring everything else outside of Philly being a “tough place to play” and the “booing” and the “media” and “forgetting how good Ben Simmons is.”

Thanks for saying that on record, Kevin. You clearly have no idea what you’re talking about.

Hart comes off out of touch with the actual situation at hand, so let’s be very clear about something, Kevin. Ben Simmons is not a victim. He has never been a victim. He’s surrounded by a bunch of people that have guided him down the wrong path and now he’s paying for it. Literally.

The city of Philadelphia loved Ben Simmons. They ignored the fact that he refused to shoot, was infatuated with fame and seemingly everything else besides Philadelphia and the 76ers, and focused solely on everything that he did well. 

Literally 2 years ago today:

To come out and say something like this means that you’re out of touch with the city of Philadelphia and 76ers fandom. Trust me, I’m someone who has supported Ben Simmons through everything and still hope he comes back to the 76ers even though that’s not going to happen. 

Philadelphia needs better representation court side. Meek Mill is the best we got. Kevin Hart is a clown show. Michael Rubin is a clown show. Will Smith is non-existent.