Simmons disputes final call vs. Grizzlies: 'Not a foul, but it was bullshit'
Brooklyn Nets point forward Ben Simmons sounded off against the whistle after fouling out for the second time in three games during his team's 134-124 loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.
Simmons made contact while defending Memphis guard Ja Morant with 3:52 left in the contest. Morant let the ball roll up the court, a tactic used to stall time because the shot clock doesn't start until a player touches the ball after the inbound.
"It wasn't a foul," Simmons said postgame according to ESPN's Nick Friedell. "(The referee) called it a foul, made a mistake, it is what it is. ... it's not a foul, but it was bullshit. It's frustrating because it's late game, fourth quarter, it's a physical, close game. It's the NBA. It's not college. It's not high school. Some people are going to get hit, some people bleed; it's basketball."
Ja Morant baited Ben Simmons into fouling out 🧠 pic.twitter.com/QZTCci9Z8M
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) October 25, 2022
Morant explained afterward he learned the play from Simmons during his rookie campaign in 2019-2020.
"I think my rookie year I was in Philly, and the same situation happened like that versus Ben in the first half," Morant said. "I went to look at Coach to get the play, and (Simmons) ran through the ball, got the steal, and went to dunk... I was at half (court), I looked at Coach and I see him try to like, 'Oh yeah.' So I knew I had him. He was going to press up, and I was just going to force the ref to make the call."
I believe this is the play Ja Morant referenced postgame from his rookie season against Simmons in Philly. Ja remembering this, and using it against Simmons tonight is some high IQ shit pic.twitter.com/8umbJzbC2F
— Brandon Abraham (@bcabraham) October 25, 2022
Simmons and Morant also received technical fouls in the first quarter of the contest. The Nets forward said his technical stemmed from something he said during the interaction.
"It wasn't malicious," Simmons said. "It wasn't at the referee. I thought it was just a part of basketball. People have emotions. I didn't cuss at him."
Simmons believes the Nets weren't able to adjust to the Grizzlies' physical play style; Brooklyn was called for 30 fouls during the game, while Memphis accrued 22.
"One way you're expecting a team to play physical and then you come out on defense and play the same way - physical - (and) it goes one way in terms of fouls, but that's basketball," the 26-year-old said.
The Nets face the Milwaukee Bucks on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m. ET.