Nets Suffer Historic Loss as Ben Simmons’ Bench Role Sparks Debate

LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Brooklyn Nets endured a humiliating 126-67 defeat against the Los Angeles Clippers on Wednesday night, marking one of the most lopsided losses in recent NBA history. The game, played at Crypto.com Arena, saw the Nets struggle on both ends of the court, but it was Ben Simmons‘ presence on the bench that sparked a social media frenzy.

Simmons, who was inactive for the game due to injury, was seated in the front row of the bench alongside other inactive players Cam Johnson and Bojan Bogdanović. Meanwhile, active players Reece Beekman and Dariq Whitehead were relegated to the second row, a decision that drew criticism from fans and analysts alike. “So a guy who’s actually playing has to sit behind the bench to give guys not playing a seat? That makes zero sense,” tweeted @jey_smooth.

The 28-year-old Simmons, a former All-Star, has been a polarizing figure this season. Averaging 6.3 points, 5.3 assists, and 7.1 rebounds per game, he has struggled to regain his pre-injury form. Despite his limited production, Simmons has remained a key topic of discussion among NBA fans. “Ben not even playing. Send his ahh to the nosebleeds taking up space 😭,” joked @_zenmartins on X (formerly Twitter).

The Nets’ performance on the court was equally concerning. The team, currently the 12th seed in the Eastern Conference with a 14-27 record, was outscored by 59 points, one of the largest margins in franchise history. Fans took to social media to express their frustration, with some suggesting the team was intentionally “tanking” to secure a higher draft pick. “This is extreme tanking,” tweeted @DrakesPats.

Others speculated that the Nets’ poor performance was part of a strategy to draft Duke University standout Cooper Flagg. “Maybe the Nets played badly because they wanted to get Cooper Flagg,” one fan theorized. Meanwhile, some fans humorously compared the game to playing NBA 2K on rookie difficulty. “Me when I play 2K on rookie difficulty,” tweeted @LuckyyPats.

Despite the criticism, a few fans remained optimistic about Simmons’ potential. “Ben Simmons will start the comeback,” tweeted @vrsaljak. However, the overwhelming sentiment on social media was one of disappointment and frustration. “A WNBA team could beat Brooklyn,” quipped @UnbiasednBiased.

The Nets’ next game is against the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday, where they will look to bounce back from this historic defeat. As for Simmons, his future with the team remains uncertain, but his presence—whether on the court or the bench—continues to generate headlines.