Beverley Slams Ben Simmons' NBA Return

Patrick Beverley has called Ben Simmons' return to the NBA unfair on players who never stopped grinding for a roster spot, and Simmons has hit back on social media.

"First of all, I don't like it at all. I don't like it at all. I don't think it's fair that you can just quit basketball and then come back. Like, you can leave without achieving much success, you know? You can leave because the game got hard, it's stressful, you're playing poorly, the fans are on you, the press is on you. You can just leave, and then get the chance to come back. Meanwhile we're watching Victor Oladipo, who's doing everything he can, who's had it rough, who swallowed his ego and went to the G League, right? We saw Oladipo grinding in front of a bunch of coaches and general managers, writing letters. And in the end you pick this guy? You just took someone's spot on the roster," said Beverley.

The Clippers guard named Victor Oladipo and Russell Westbrook as examples of veterans he considers more deserving, and pointed to Gabe Vincent and Cam Thomas as players still without a contract. He went further in a separate exchange on social media.

"He's just a soft bastard. He needs to shut his mouth and just go play basketball," Beverley said.

Simmons answered on social media directly.

"Left? I played two years with health problems. This isn't charity. I worked as hard as I could to get back to the game I love. And you all keep making up stories for your own gain. That says a lot more about you," Simmons wrote.

Beverley has been vocal on several fronts of late, questioning the Clippers' trade for Kawhi Leonard and laying out a defensive plan against LeBron James and Joel Embiid this week. This latest exchange with Simmons adds another name to that run of pointed remarks.