Ben Simmons joins fellow athletes in slamming Donald Trump

Australian basketball star Ben Simmons has joined the long list of athletes who have voiced displeasure against U.S. President Donald Trump. Simmons, set to make his NBA debut for the Philadelphia 76ers in the near future, didn't hold back while criticising Trump during Tuesday's pre-season training camp.

In the wake of Trump's controversial comments about NFL players protesting the national anthem, athletes across the world have come together in their stance against the U.S. President. On Friday, Trump encouraged NFL owners to "fire" players protesting The Star-Spangled Banner, besides asking unhappy fans to walk out the stadiums.

"Wouldn't you love to see one of these NFL owners, when somebody disrespects our flag, to say, 'Get that son of a b---- off the field right now. Out. He's fired! He's fired,'" Trump said at a rally in Alabama.

Since Friday, the NBA, NFL and a host of global athletes have joined the debate. Simmons ddin't mince his words on Tuesday. “I think he’s an idiot. If we were in Australia right now, a lot of people would call him a d*ckhead, and that’s how I personally feel,” Simmons told Fox Sports News 500.

Ben Simmons back from injury, ready to dominate

Simmons, drafted No. 1 overall by the Philadelphia 76ers in 2016, skipped the entire 2016-17 NBA season to rehabilitate from foot surgery. This year, Simmons is dealt with the task of spearheading the new-and-improved Sixers rosters to the playoffs. Besides adding No. 1 pick Markelle Fultz, Philadelphia added veteran shooter J. J. Redick and stretch forward Amir Johnson to the roster. According to odds makers in Las Vegas, Simmons will lead the Sixers to the playoffs and win the Rookie of the Year award.

“Some of the comments he’s just made about players, the NFL, the anthem. Everyone respects America, and everyone thinks America is a great country, but he’s the wrong person to be in charge of it. I think, as a man, you’re not supposed to be tweeting like that, saying remarks about women, what people should be doing, how you talk to leaders of other countries, and putting America in a situation where it doesn’t need to be like that," Simmons added.

On Sunday, during the pre-game drills, several NFL players wore T-shirts that read "#IMWITHKAP" to show solidarity with Colin Kaepernick, who began the process of kneeling during the national anthem to protest police brutality against African Americans in the U.S. Ben Simmons is just one among hundreds of foreign athletes who believe Trump has failed as a leader of the free world. "I think the U.S. is a great country. I love being here. I’m very appreciative of the job I’m in. I think he’s the wrong person to be in charge. He’s definitely not a leader.”