After the Philadelphia 76ers went 10-72 during the 2015-2016 NBA season, their prize for futility was securing the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. The 76ers would use that pick of small forward Ben Simmons who was seen by some people as the second coming of Cleveland Cavaliers small forward LeBron James. James is 6’9″, while Simmons is 6’10”, and both players pass like point guards along with having the ability to clean up on the boards. Simmons displayed this during his one collegiate season for the LSU Tigers as he averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 4.8 assists en route to being named the Southeastern Conference’s Freshman of the Year.
Simmons was expected to come in and help the 76ers turn things around, but those plans were put on the shelf after he suffered a broken foot just prior to the start of the 2016-2017 NBA season. At first it appeared that Simmons would be out for a few months, but when it was all said and done, he would be sidelined for the entire season. However Simmons would rehab nicely, and now he as well as Philadelphia are reaping the benefits.
With Simmons and center Joel Embiid leading the way, Philadelphia has become one of the more popular teams in the NBA. The Sixers are currently 26-25 which has them in third place in the Atlantic Division, but more importantly they are eighth in the Eastern Conference. The Sixers are about to eclipse their win total from last season which was just 28 victories, while they are in line for their first playoff appearance since 2012. And for the 76ers turnaround, Simmons is a big part of it.
On the season Simmons is averaging 16.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.2 assists, and 1.8 steals. Simmons is in the mix to be the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, but aside from his individual stats, it is his impact on his teammates.
In the mode of James, Simmons knows how to get his teammates involved, while also having an impact on the game without being a big scorer. Simmons has played in 50 of Philadelphia’s 51 games and during his time on the court this season, he has recorded 10 or more assists in a game 10 times which includes getting five triple-doubles. Simmons’ best performances of the season came on November 29 versus the Washington Wizards when he poured in a career-high 31 points, to go along with 18 rebounds in a 118-113 victory, and on January 24 versus the Chicago Bulls, he was able to get 19 points, 17 rebounds, and 14 assists. Simmons is doing all of this in spite of the fact that he is only shooting 56% from the free throw line, while he has yet to knock down a three-point shot. But to Simmons’ credit, he is not trying to be something that he isn’t as he has focused on getting his teammates involved, crashing the boards, and getting to the basket as this unselfishness will go a long way during his NBA career. And it is easy for Simmons when he plays alongside a big man like Embiid who can finish at the basket as it all about getting the ball to the big fella as much as possible.
James wasn’t good perimeter shooter when he first got to the NBA, but he worked on it en route to becoming the game’s best player. Simmons lacks the explosiveness off of the dribble that James possesses, but in a few years he will be the best passer in the NBA.
Under head coach Brett Brown, the 76ers offensive system is predicated on ball movement which fits right into the style of basketball that Simmons plays, and more important he has helped to provide the City of Philadelphia with a breath of fresh air.
The fans who follow the Sixers had to sit back and watch “the process” of the team’s former general manager Sam Hinkie. Hinkie wanted to rebuild the 76ers from the ground up, but he focused on drafting injured players which was not going to win him many friends on Broad Street. Philadelphia has a new direction under current team president Bryan Colangelo who is focused on making the 76ers once again a respectable NBA franchise with Simmons being a part of it.
What James has done over the last 15 years in the NBA has helped to show young players that no matter their size that they can be perimeter players. At 6’10”, while just being 21-years of age, the potential of Simmons is limitless. As a rookie, Simmons is already fifth in the NBA in assists, and just like Oscar Robertson and currently Oklahoma City Thunder point guard Russell Westbrook were able to do, it is not out of the realm of possibilities to see this youngster one day average a triple-double for an entire season. The jump shot of Simmons must and will improve as it will be scary good to see him as a finished basketball product.
Source: Basketball-reference.com
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