Ben Simmons accused former Philadelphia 76ers president of basketball operations Daryl Morey of betraying his trust, describing him as a “snake” in ESPN’s documentary “Being Ben.” The former No. 1 overall pick also explained that his decision to stay away from Philadelphia stemmed from feeling unwanted by the organization, rather than never wanting to play for the 76ers.
Simmons said he believed someone within the organization was trying to move him and had made promises to James Harden. He framed the conflict as a breakdown in trust during a difficult period for the franchise.
Simmons said that people may turn against others to protect their own positions. He acknowledged that Morey had responsibilities as an executive but argued that their relationship should have meant the situation was handled differently.
Simmons’ relationship with Philadelphia deteriorated after the 2021 playoffs. Following the 76ers’ second-round elimination by the Atlanta Hawks, he did not play during the 2021-22 season amid a holdout and back issues. Philadelphia traded him to the Brooklyn Nets in February 2022 as part of the deal that brought Harden to the 76ers.
Simmons had been a three-time All-Star in Philadelphia and won the NBA Rookie of the Year award in 2018. He averaged 15.9 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists across his first four seasons with the 76ers, establishing himself as one of the team’s central players before the relationship broke down.
The trade ended Simmons’ time in Philadelphia without another appearance for the team. He later struggled to stay on the court in Brooklyn because of recurring back problems, and he last played in the NBA during the 2024-25 season, splitting time between the Nets and Los Angeles Clippers.
