Video: Shaquille O'Neal Calls Out Ben Simmons

Shaquille O'Neal has transitioned into an analyst role on the NBA on TNT alongside Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, and Charles Barkley. The show is revered for its humor and its "anything goes" atmosphere, where sometimes the outspoken Barkley or O'Neal will go on a tangent about a team, player or situation that they feel passionate about. Last night during the broadcast, O'Neal dug into discontented Sixers point guard Ben Simmons, and he did not mince his words.

Here is the video in which Shaq criticizes the former #1 overall pick:

Shaq on Ben Simmons: "The difference between (Embiid) & his soft partner is he can take criticism without being a crybaby...Great players step up to the criticism & perform. So this other guy, I don't respect him. I would get rid of him." pic.twitter.com/0seElq1M6s
— Ballislife.com (@Ballislife) January 28, 2022

The Hall-of-Fame center called Simmons both "soft" and a "crybaby" in regards to him not wanting to play basketball this season because as Shaq puts it: he can't take criticism. Shaq goes on to say that he respects his teammate Joel Embiid for taking the criticism and trying to make himself a better player while he does not have any respect for Ben Simmons.

Those are definitely strong words but the 3x Finals MVP knows what it takes to be a great player in the NBA and watching a great player like Joel Embiid have a year of his prime essentially given away frustrates him. Philadephia does not have a real shot at a championship this season due to Simmons' holdout and management's inability (or unwillingness) to make a trade.