Ben Simmons appears to be demanding an apology from critics such as Stephen A. Smith and Shaquille O’Neal. The NBA star subtly made a statement when he retweeted a post from sports blogger Doc Holliday.

“Screamin’ A. Smith, Shaq, Barkley, Reggie Miller, Kendrick Perkins, Skip Bayless, Shannon Sharpe, and all those other national media personalities that made fun of that man. Shaq, [saying] he punked out. Stephen A. Smith talked about all other things about his mental capacity and all of that. Are y’all going to apologize to that man? Who literally has a hurt back,” Holliday said in the video message retweeted by Simmons.

Simmons, who has been dealing with a herniated disc in his back, underwent a successful microdiscectomy surgery on Thursday in Los Angeles, USA Today reports. The Brooklyn Nets star is expected to recover in three to four months and be ready for the start of next season.

Simmons shared a photo on social media after surgery and thanked his fans for the well wishes.

 

As Blavity previously reported, Simmons has been facing criticism in the past year after he decided that he doesn’t want to play for the Philadelphia 76ers. The All-Star was traded to the Nets in February, but still missed the rest of the season while recovering from his back injury.

Smith has been one of the most vocal critics of the star athlete.

“Ben Simmons might also be the weakest, most pathetic excuse for a professional athlete we have ever seen in, not just American history, but the history of sports,” Smith said on ESPN’s First Take. “I can’t think of a professional athlete that has come across more pathetic than this man.”

Simmons, however, received support from friends, including Jamie Foxx.

“That is completely unfair @bensimmons has a family this man has people that love him and this man just plays basketball but to be dragged through the mud like this is unfair,” Foxx said on social media.

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