Nets’ Ben Simmons rips referees after fouling out again: ‘Bulls–t’

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Ben Simmons’ return to form is a work in progress. And the work took a step backwards on Monday night, with him fouling out and ripping the refs afterward. 

All but invisible in a 134-124 loss to the Grizzlies, Simmons fouled out with seven points and eight rebounds. But he took just five shots, had five turnovers and finished a game-worst minus-16, his unwillingness to drive hurting the offense. 

“I’ve got to push. I’ve got to be more aggressive, more assertive. I think I was doing a better job that last two games. So I’ve got to continue doing that,” said Simmons, who didn’t hold back on the refereeing, particularly on his final foul. 

Seemingly baited by Ja Morant, Simmons got his sixth foul with the Nets down 124-118 with 3:52 left. 

“It wasn’t a foul. He called it a foul, made a mistake. It is what it is,” Simmons said. “Really frustrating. But all I can do now is support my team from the bench. But f–k yeah it’s frustrating. It’s not a foul. That was bulls–t. It’s frustrating because it’s a late game, it’s fourth quarter, it’s a physical close game. It’s the NBA. This is not college. It’s not high school. Some people are going to get hit, some people will bleed. It’s basketball.” 

When asked what explanation he got from referee JT Orr, Simmons said he got none. 

“There was no explanation for that call. He didn’t have anything to say,” Simmons said. “Same as the technical foul. He said because Ja had a tech he had to give me a tech because I said something. But it wasn’t malicious, it wasn’t at the referee. I told him it was just a part of basketball. People have emotions. I didn’t cuss at him, I didn’t call him anything. I said it was a bulls–t call, which it was.” 

Brooklyn is minus-45 in Simmons’ first 83 minutes on the floor. Steve Nash admitted the former All-Star has to be aggressive driving to the rim. Foes are defending the Nets five-on-four with Simmons on the court. 

Markieff Morris is away from the team and his twin brother Marcus tweeted that their father had passed away. 

Coach Steve Nash said Morris isn’t expected to join the Nets on Wednesday in Milwaukee, but could rejoin them when they return to Brooklyn on Thursday. 

T.J. Warren (left foot) and Seth Curry (left ankle injury) were both out Monday, but Curry is closing in on a return. 

“[Curry] traveled and we’re just monitoring him still. He’s doing well,” Nash said. “I’d say he’s out for Wednesday, but we’ll see whether Thursday, Saturday or the subsequent games. It’s coming soon.” 

After Joe Harris logged 17:51 on Friday — his first regular-season game since November 2021 — he played 22:32 against Memphis and was a team-high plus-12. He finished with 12 points on 3 of 9 shooting, 2 of 7 from downtown.