Actor and comedian Jamie Foxx came to the defense of Ben Simmons after sports analyst and commentator Stephen A. Smith criticized the athlete during a rant on ESPN’s First Take show. Smith addressed Simmons’ inability to suit up for the Brooklyn Nets in their first-round playoff matchup against the Boston Celtics following weeks of speculation that he could possibly play in the series.
“Ben Simmons might also be the weakest, most pathetic excuse for a professional athlete we have ever seen in, not just American history, but the history of sports,” Smith said amid news that the former No. 1 overall NBA Draft pick would not be in the Nets’ lineup for Game 4 later that evening. “I can’t think of a professional athlete that has come across more pathetic than this man.”
Smith’s commentary was shared and broadcasted on social media and various other platforms, with many weighing in, including Jamie Foxx. The Oscar winner shared his thoughts under a post of a clip of the segment on Instagram, deeming Smith’s criticism as excessive and unwarranted.
“That is completely unfair @bensimmons has a family this man has people that love him and this man just plays basketball but to be dragged through the mud like this is unfair,” Foxx wrote.
“And why is it @stephenasmith you only go at basketball players,” he continued. “You [are] completely mute when it comes to the Tom Bradys [and] the Aaron Rodgers of the world… You get where I’m going… stop it bruh it’s out of bounds.”
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Smith addressed Foxx’s comment directly on Tuesday’s edition of ‘First Take.’
“Jamie Foxx knows better,” Smith explained. “He’s just highly protective of the black athlete, as he should be, because they deserve our protection in a lot of situations.
“Jamie Foxx knows good and damn well it ain’t got nothing to do with brotherhood for me. I protect brothers all the damn time, trust you me, it’s what I don’t say that proves my protection.”
The Brooklyn Nets were eliminated from the NBA Playoffs on Monday night after being swept 4-0 by the Boston Celtics after their 116-112 defeat in Game 4.
