High-profile, superstar athletes care about two things when it comes to their careers. First and (sometimes) foremost, they want to win. However, money is also a massive motivator because trophies and medals don’t pay the bills. That’s why some players threaten to leave their teams high and dry because of contract disputes.
The world of sports is a selfish place because the athletes have short careers. It’s often about enhancing their net worth and value as quickly as possible. One injury could change everything so they can’t afford to think about the team before themselves. It may be a cold reality, but it is reality, so check out the list of athletes who threatened to leave their teams hanging via The Sporting News below.
50. Ben Simmons
The Philadelphia 76ers hoped Simmons would propel their team to the next level. But then it all went wrong for the player and the franchise. The Australian cited mental health issues as the reason why he didn’t want to play for the team anymore (via CBS Sports).
This put him at odds with the franchise. He missed the entire 2021 season before Philly traded him to Brooklyn. It’s a shame because he left his teammates in a bad position. The franchise could have taken a more reasonable approach as well.