Ben Simmons Couldn't Do it, Could You?

Do you think you can work in an environment where you are disrespected and don’t feel appreciated? The 2021-2022 NBA season is on its way. The Philadelphia 76ers are still dealing with the loss to the Atlanta Hanks. Ben Simmons has made it clear that he no longer wants to play for the 76ers organizations after receiving negative comments about him from other team members in a press conference. Ben Simmons decided to miss parts of training camp, and when he finally arrived shown little interest in being there.

Do you think you could handle your work publicly criticized? NBA players are used to having their performance criticized for their performance in a game. Ben Simmons is not an exception. Since Simmons started playing college basketball, criticism has followed him. Criticism is part of growing, and being able to take is what makes people great. There is also a time and a place for criticism. Here is where the trouble starts for the 76ers.

After losing to the Atlanta Hawks, a press conference was held. The coach of the 76ers is Doc Rivers, and he also attended the press conference. Doc Rivers was asked, do you think you can win a championship with Ben Simmons. Doc replied, "I don’t know the answer to that right now." The teammate of Ben Simmons, Joel Embiid, was also asked questions. Joel Embiid responded indirectly about Simmons’ blowing an opportunity to score.

Imagine your supervisor and a coworker announcing how bad your production is to everyone. Could you simply ignore it and continue to work harder to prove everyone wrong?  Or would you want to change your environment by looking for another job?

Does our society set unrealistic expectations for workers to be able through any problem regardless of the situation? Plenty of sports broadcasters has made their opinions visible. Mostly their advice to Ben Simmons is to get better, show up to work, be professional, accept your faults. Some people think it is reasonable for Ben Simmons to want out of Philadelphia, still think Ben should remain professional and continue to work.

The point to be made is if Ben Simmons worked at a conventional workplace, would his current circumstance be looked at differently. As we get better at improving workplace environments, does that also extends to professional athletes? Is it because the type of work a person has grants them less wiggle room to express discontentment? As more players display discontentment, how should they be judged? How should people react to finding out about their dissatisfaction?