Sixers' Georges Niang dishes on ex-teammate Ben Simmons' drama: He ‘kind of handicapped us’

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Ben Simmons has been with the Brooklyn Nets just over one calendar year after he was shipped out of Philadelphia last season at the trade deadline.

Simmons originally asked for a trade in August 2021 and then became embroiled in a standoff with the Philadelphia 76ers. Simmons last played for the Sixers in June 2021 and later said he did not suit up in his last several months in Philly because he was taking time to focus on his mental health and to recover from a back injury.

During an appearance on 97.5 The Fanatic's "The John Kincade Show," Simmons' former teammate discussed his departure.

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Georges Niang of the Philadelphia 76ers during the fourth quarter against the Houston Rockets at Wells Fargo Center Feb. 13, 2023, in Philadelphia. (Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

Niang was asked how Philadelphia's 2021-22 roster compares to the current roster.

"Well, Ben Simmons kind of handicapped us at the beginning of last year," Niang said. "I wasn’t going to say it, but you know what I mean. … When you look at building rosters, like I’m talking from like a general manager standpoint. I don’t know how much he makes, but it’s a max contract. 

"So, you immediately take that off the books. ‘I’m not playing.’ Now you have to figure it out where other role players have to step up and replace the passing, dribbling, rebounding, defense."

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He added that last year's situation left some players with an "uneasy feeling."

"I think people don’t understand, the team aspect is very important," Niang