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‘What a piece of…’ – Ben Simmons sounds off on former coach Doc Rivers’ throwing him under the bus

Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons reflected on his infamous moment during Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference semi-finals in a new documentary. Simmons’

Yard Barker

Published: Sunday, 18 October 2026 at 9:00 AM

Key Things to Know

Ben Simmons criticized former coach Doc Rivers in a documentary for blaming him after the 2021 playoffs.
Simmons claimed Rivers acted out of self-preservation to avoid losing his job following the Game 7 defeat.
Philadelphia traded Simmons to the Brooklyn Nets for James Harden in 2022.

The Story in 60 Seconds

In an upcoming ESPN documentary, Sacramento Kings guard Ben Simmons strongly criticized his former Philadelphia 76ers head coach Doc Rivers. Simmons reflected on the aftermath of Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference semi-finals, stating he felt Rivers threw him under the bus to protect his own job following their playoff exit against the Atlanta Hawks.

Simmons explained that people panic during difficult times, leading Rivers into self-preservation mode. Simmons was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2022 before joining the Kings for the 2026-27 season, while Rivers left the Milwaukee Bucks in 2026.

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‘What a piece of…’ – Ben Simmons sounds off on former coach Doc Rivers’ throwing him under the bus

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