Actually many people couldn't get off the guys nut sack about him being the Next Lebron especially Sixers fans (this was the constant defense and excuse I got for them tanking was to get "The next Lebron and you can't pass that up") as well as many in the media. The problem is many fans fell for the hype. He's soft, needs to be coddled, disinterested in key moments, can't shoot and if Ben didn't have the defense around him people would see just how much he sucks on defense too. Trust me I wasn't one of those NBA fans who just saw Ben's highlights in college. I watched the games since I'm an SEC fan. Ben was not really impressive in many games in college. Most people just saw his highlights on ESPN or wherever. He constantly failed to take over games in college he should've taken over. One of the most overrated prospects in the last 10 yrs in terms of hype. He's a stat padder. I never expected him to be a Lebron or Magic. Honestly I just saw a guy who was afraid and or couldn't shoot a jumper, had a lazy attitude, thought a little too entitled at times, couldn't play defense but was 6-10 and could run the floor and shoot. I've always said He's gonna be a Rudy Gay of the NBA. People will get overly excited about the guys potential, he won't live up to the hype from fans and media, will end up in the coach (in this case Brett Brown) being fired, getting a big contract he shouldn't have and then eventually being traded for peanuts. That contract ends and some other team tries to play mr fix it with him. I'm by no means calling the guys career a failure or a Darko here. I'm just saying he's was incredible overhyped by the media and many fans bought it. Like I stated earlier I've mentioned many of the issues with Ben in the NBA thread for the last few yrs now and even on my old board. I just go the constant defenses that I was just a hater of the guy, oh Lebron didn't develop a jumper till his 2nd or 3rd season in the league, etc etc etc. Now all those people I see who defended his red flags are going after him because now they are a problem.
I honestly blame the media when guys fail expectations especially NBA prospects. The NBA does a horrible job of developing these players and I've said I won't be surprised by 2026 Olympics if team USA isn't medaling in basketball with the way these European countries are developing talent today. I'd love to see the NBA adopt and adapt rule changes to the FIFA style considering there is a great amount of players who'd benefit it. I think the media and the NBA tells them to sugar coat and overhype prospects because lets be real most of these college kids shouldn't be coming to the NBA right after 1 year of college. I'd like to see the MLB rule of kids can come out at HS or go to college and play 3 yrs of ball. I think if college coaches had a better understanding once they get a kid he's there 3 yrs they'll put more time in developing them. Plus given how bad the prospect pool has been in the draft the media has to overhype the talent at the top to keep the fans of the sucky teams interested. If they know this years top guys are more of role players at best hey maybe you can pull a rabbit out of your ### and one of these guys will be a top 20 player MAYBE are fans really gonna care?
Either way if the Sixers were smart they'd trade Ben this summer while he still has major value. The one trade I'd like to see made is Ben to LAL for Ingram and Kuzma maybe LaGM James throws in Lonzo too since Daddy wants to leave LA already. With the way Sixers fans are acting on social media right now with Ben's comments on fans booing him the team I think I'm seeing plenty of support right now to just ship him out of town. He just doesn't fit the Sixers roster system wise.
