Stephen A. Smith roasts Ben Simmons after former No. 1 pick agrees to deal with Kings

"He treated taking a shot as if you asked him to be on the front lines in Afghanistan," Smith said, as only he could.

The pundit is referring to viral clips of Simmons passing up on not just open shots, but easy layups as well.

The fall-off of Simmons was a shocking one and explains why he is signing with the Kings on a minimum deal after sitting out all of last season and being a non-factor in the 2024-25 season with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers.

"How come he isn't paying Sacramento?" Smith continued. "He should be paying them to let him play." 

That is a harsh take and one Simmons will look to combat in his return, as Smith will not be the only one criticizing him.

This is a player who signed a $170 million deal in 2019, only to see his scoring abilities crater soon after. The Kings are taking a flyer on the 30-year-old, but that franchise is not exactly known for allowing reclamation projects to thrive.