Ja Morant Offers Up Hilarious Explanation For How He Baited Ben Simmons Into Awful Sixth Foul

Ben Simmons’ return to an NBA basketball court with the Brooklyn Nets hasn’t exactly gone according to plan. Simmons sat out the entire 2021-22 NBA season due to mental and physical health problems. During that season, he was at the center of blockbuster trade that sent him from Philadelphia to Brooklyn and James Harden the opposite direction.

While the Sixers are just 1-3 in the early season, early indications are that Harden back to playing at his previously MVP-caliber level.

Simmons, on the other hand, has not returned to his All-Star-caliber level. In fact, he hasn’t even been close to the level he was playing at prior to skipping the the 2021-22 season.

Nets teammate Kyrie Irving even called out Simmons for fouling out in the team’s season-opening blowout loss to the New Orleans Pelicans. Simmons fouled out yet again on Monday night against the Memphis Grizzlies. This time, it came on a call that he called “bullsh-t.” But Grizzlies superstar Ja Morant knew exactly what Simmons would do and played him like a fiddle.

Ja Morant Explains How He Baited Ben Simmons Into Silly Sixth Foul

Simmons fouled out with just under four minutes remaining in the game and the Nets trailing Memphis, 124-118. Morant rolled the ball up the court then stood, without attacking, just inside the halfcourt line.

Eventually, Simmons crept up on Morant and put a hand on him before being called for a hand check and fouling out of the contest. Morant then explained afterward that he knew exactly how the sequence would go.

Morant explained that in his rookie year, Simmons tried the same thing and stole the ball as Morant looked away toward his coach. This time around, Morant intentionally looked away to get Simmons to step up and then attacked him off the dribble. That drew the foul and sent Simmons to the showers.

It turns out Ja Morant isn’t just an outstanding athlete, but one hell of a chess player as well.