Brooklyn Nets small forward Jared Dudley says he regrets using the word “average” to describe Philadelphia 76ers All-Star Ben Simmons.
Dudley said Simmons was an average player in the half-court because of his inability to hit a jump shot. The Sixers defeated the Nets in the first round in five games.
“I do wish I chose different words,” Dudley told Marc Stein of The New York Times. “I was breaking down how we were going to guard him — how you try to limit someone like Ben Simmons. I was just trying to say that we would have our best success if we could get him in a half-court game.
“Should I have used the word average? Looking back on it, no. It was such a negative reaction after I said it that no one heard I also said he was elite in transition and an elite passer. But, you know, it happens. It’s the playoffs. And I understand the reaction. I understand how it goes.”
The Nets won Game 1 in Philadelphia, but lost four-straight after that.
Dudley got into it with Sixers big man Joel Embiid, small forward Jimmy Butler and Simmons in Game 4.
Dudley and Butler were ejected after a fight broke out. Dudley was fined $2,000 for his ejection and $25,000 for his on-court altercation.
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