Stephen A. Smith publicly criticizes Ben Simmons as the former NBA player returns to the league with the Sacramento Kings. Both outlets describe Smith’s reaction as blunt, focusing on Simmons’s prior conduct and performance rather than the details of his new role.
In the lead-up to Simmons’s return, Yahoo Sports reports Smith portrays Simmons as having engaged in wrongdoing, using harsh language to characterize his earlier time in the NBA. Newsweek similarly frames Smith’s comments as an “honest” critique tied to the comeback with Sacramento. While the two sources differ in the specific phrasing and emphasis, they align on the basic premise: Smith is critical of Simmons’s return to Sacramento and uses strong language to express his view.
The reporting also notes Simmons’s comeback contract with the Kings. Yahoo Sports specifies the deal as one year with a $3 million figure, tying Smith’s commentary to the broader context of Simmons joining Sacramento again.
