Philadelphia 76ers jack-of-all-trades Ben Simmons made sure the 2021 NBA Defensive Player of the Year discussion stayed alive and well on Tuesday afternoon. The Sixers' stopper had some spicy comments directed at annual DPOY contender and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert.

In a Tuesday interview with ESPN's Rachel Nichols on “The Jump,” Ben Simmons told Nichols the award goes to “guys who can guard 1-5,” and that while he has a “lot of respect for Rudy” and “knows what he's capable of,” Gobert just isn't as busy as he is on the defensive end.

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Also, Ben Simmons had a particular one-on-one memory of Gobert at the heart of his argument.

“He guarded me in Utah,” Ben Simmons said.

ESPN's Rachel Nichols prodded: “And?”

“And I had 42 [points],” Simmons added. “And apparently I'm not a scorer. I have a lot of respect for [Rudy], but at the same time, I think it's mine this year.”

Ben Simmons, of course, is referencing his prolific outburst against the Jazz on Feb. 15, where he poured in a career-best in points behind 15-for-26 shooting from the floor, 12-for-13 shooting from the stripe and added 12 assists with just four turnovers in an 11-point loss.

Per nba.com's 2021 Defensive “Player of the Year” weekly ladder, Gobert — the 7-foot-1 “Stifle Tower” — currently stands in line to receive his third DPOY award, with Ben Simmons in second, Indiana Pacers center Myles Turner in third, Miami Heat's Bam Adebayo in fourth and Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo in fifth.

Does Ben Simmons have an argument, based on his versatility and work load with MVP candidate Joel Embiid sidelined due to injury? Or is he off base?

Unfortunately, the two teams won't play each other again this year unless they collide in the 2021 NBA Finals. The clubs split 1-1 in a home-away two-game combination, as is normal for teams from opposite conferences.