Philadelphia 76ers star point-forward Ben Simmons has been largely criticized for his inability and ineffectiveness from long range. The 23-year-old Australian former Rookie of the Year rarely attempts any jump shots and almost never shoots from downtown, but reportedly Simmons has improved his shot in the offseason. Ex-Sixers teammate JJ Redick is not too keen on the shady improvement.

Speaking to ESPN's Zach Lowe on the writer's podcast, Redick, 35, expressed doubt and was hesitant to say his former teammate in Philly is definitely a better 3-point shooter.

“I'm such a curmudgeon when it comes to these videos in the offseason. I just don't buy them. I watch them and I'm like ‘this is just awful basketball.'”

Simmons has been the subject of many videos shared over the summer on social media apparently showing his newfound long-range prowess, but the veteran shooting guard Redick is iffy on the quality of competition facing Simmons. In recent years, with the development of Instagram and Twitter, for example, players have been able to update fans and followers on social media with their own videos touting offseason preparations, including new skills conceivably added to their repertoire. For some players, like Simmons, that could be a sudden propensity to shoot from deep, and hit accurately, too.

Redick signed with the youthful New Orleans Pelicans in the offseason after two successful seasons with the Sixers. He averaged 17.6 points and 2.8 assists per game in 146 regular-season appearances for the Sixers, including shooting 44.9% from the field and 40.7% from 3-point range.