Ben Simmons' play got disrespected by a Wizards announcer. Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Wizards announcer: Ben Simmons is 'overrated'

Originally posted on Game 7 | By Charles Kruger | Last updated 3/13/21

Washington Wizards announcer Justin Kutcher sparked outrage on Friday night with controversial comments about Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons.

During a showdown between the Wizards and Sixers, Kutcher could be heard bashing Simmons in a way not typically seen from NBA broadcasters.

The audio largely speaks for itself:

I’m gonna need y’all to listen to this pic.twitter.com/3XLaNBypkp

— BEAN (@MGRADS) March 13, 2021

“I’ve said it before and I know I’ll take flak for it,” Kutcher said. “I think Ben Simmons is one of if not the most overrated player in the NBA. He’s got so much love and attention that people aren’t paying attention to what Tobias Harris is doing on the floor.”

Afterward, Kutcher doubled down on his comments in a Twitter post:

Yep, I said that Ben Simmons is one of the most overrated plyrs in the NBA, and I stand by it. I didn’t say he was BAD, just not as good as everyone makes him out to be. GREAT defender, potential DPOY, but I think he’s made All League/All Star Teams based on hype. And..goodnight
— Justin Kutcher (@JustinKutcher) March 13, 2021

The incessant Simmons hate is a bit odd, to say the least. He is a three-time All-Star, earned placement on an All-NBA Team, got an All-Defensive First-Team nod, won Rookie of the Year and recorded the most steals in the NBA in 2020.

Does his shooting leave something to be desired? Sure. But he is still objectively one of the league’s best young players.

For whatever, between his aforementioned shooting woes, the trade talk that he can’t seem to shake and his surprising penchant for making headlines for messy off-court matters, Simmons sometimes isn’t viewed in the fondest of lights by certain factions of the basketball-watching community.

This most recent incident with Kutcher is just the latest example of it.

This article first appeared on Game 7 and was syndicated with permission.

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