Ben Simmons snaps back in response to viral airball clip

The much-maligned Ben Simmons was the butt of jokes once again this week after a video clip surfaced of him shooting an airball during a public relations event held by the Brooklyn Nets. 

For Simmons, these types of incidents have become far too commonplace. Speaking with ESPN on Wednesday, Simmons vented about the excitement surrounding him this week and seemed to be trying to take it all in stride. 

Simmons said things like this week's viral airball clip find their way to him on social media "all the time," adding, "and it doesn't f—ing stop." 

"Even the other day there was a clip of me airballing a shot at the park. Meanwhile, like ten guys airballed multiple shots," Simmons said. "So it's like people will find one clip and try to make that everything — like Ben can't do this [this or that]. Like come on man, you think I'm just airballing every shot? It's not true. But it comes with it, and you got to have tough skin and I realize that, but nah, I can't take everything personally. It's social media." 

Simmons hasn't played in an actual NBA game in well over a year, last seeing action in the Philadelphia 76ers' Game 7 loss to the Atlanta Hawks in the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals. 

Traded to the Nets ahead of last season's trade deadline, Simmons finally stepped on the floor wearing a Brooklyn uniform this preseason. The three-time All-Star will make his Nets debut in this year's season opener on Oct. 19, against the New Orleans Pelicans.