The Brooklyn Nets are working overtime on making sure that Ben Simmons can get through the inevitable boo fest tonight at the Wells Fargo Center.

Well, not even just tonight.

76ers fans have already started giving Simmons the business this morning outside the Nets’ hotel.

The Nets arrived at the Wells Fargo Center for practice earlier today and Steve Nash briefly spoke with the media about Simmons and tonight’s game. 

“How many people go into an arena and get booed by the entire place? I had it done to me and I thought it was a privilege. So I hope he enjoys the experience.”

Talk about a SpinZone. Maybe what Kevin Durant said the other night after the Hornets game about anyone who boos Simmons has a “shitty life” didn’t resonate for Ben, so now they’re going with the “boos mean a sign of respect” narrative to see if that will help the mental-midget that is Ben Simmons. 

Steve Nash is wrong. There’s a difference in being booed out of respect. That happens all of the time. If you’re a really good player then you’ll get the boo-business from Philly sports fans as a sign of respect.

Tonight’s boos are different. 

We’re talking about Ben Simmons, once a shining star in Philadelphia that turned his back on everyone and refused to play basketball. These aren’t boos of respect, they derive from a place of hatred and betrayal.

Let’s just beat the shit out of the Nets tonight on the court and give Ben Simmons what he deserves with relentless booing and then shift focus back to the 76ers and winning the NBA championship, shall we?

Mandatory Credit: The Athletic