The Brooklyn Nets entered the playoffs as one of the favorites to win the NBA Championship, despite being a #7 seed in the eastern conference. They are now just one game from being swept by the Boston Celtics in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Earlier Sunday, news surfaced that embattled Nets superstar Ben Simmons is not going to play in Game 4, a reversal from prior news.

That left people inside and out of basketball torching Simmons. That included ESPN's Stephen A. Smith, who did not mince words with his thoughts on the subject.

The ESPN personality went in on Simmons on ESPN after the news broke earlier Sunday.

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“He quit on LSU, the Sixers and now he ain't showing up for the Nets. Despite him not playing, he still filed a grievance for $20 million that he has not earned. One of the most pathetic situations I have ever seen.”

The Nets forward did not even play a full season at LSU. His time with the Philadelphia 76ers was tumultuous at best. Simmons had openly talked about the mental issues he had been dealing with. However, upon being traded to Brooklyn, the back issues then began.

Prior to Game 3's loss to Boston, the Nets had announced that Simmons was going to make his debut in Game 4. Now that the Nets are trailing 3-0 in the series, clearly Smith is not buying the reported ‘back flare up' of Simmons Sunday morning. The Nets will need to make NBA history and win four straight vs. the Celtics. Otherwise, they are facing a long offseason full of a lot of tough questions.