Out of all the things I expected out of the 2017-18 NBA season, Ben Simmons climbing the ranks as a rookie to become one of the league's top stars was not high on the list. One can't help but compare his towering size and magnetic play to Magic Johnson, a fellow over-sized point guard at 6'9 and one of the all-time greatest to ever lace them up. Simmons averaged a remarkable 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists in his inaugural campaign. His presence this year took the Sixers from lottery mainstays to the third seed in the East. Philly became so shockingly good so quickly that he even dared us to think that they'd be the ones to emerge out of the East and play in the Finals!
I think it was the game against LeBron in the springtime that had me and a lot of other people going "woooooah...this man might be a generational talent." He's running the show and controlling the pace just like we've seen James himself do throughout the first 15 years of his career. Sixers fans who followed the action from the start of the season may scoff at my late-season realization of Ben's talent, but I doubt even they were thinking that Ben would look THIS good so early on. Take a look at his top plays of the season if you're not familiar with the kids potential:
Ben Simmons 17'-18' Rookie Of The Year | Top 10 Plays Of The Season
He embodies a young Magic Johnson in the way he whips these passes around the court (especially the no-look ones). It's like he's pulling defenders any which way he wants on a string. What makes him so deadly is that ever-present bubbling pool of talent coupled with his total lack of fear. Prominent sportswriter and podcaster Bill Simmons remarked in a podcast that Ben just has this innate sense of badass in him, possibly due from his Aussie roots. I've got to say that I agree with that sentiment.
Ben was remarkably the third Melbourne-born player taken No. 1 overall in NBA Draft history (Andrew Bogut and Kyrie Irving were the first two). He grew up in a professional basketball environment as his father Dave Simmons played in Australia in the NBL for the Melbourne Tigers starting in 1989 until 1996. Dave also spent 13 years on the Australian National Team. His dad was from the States though, where he played his college career at Oklahoma City University. Playing for the Melbourne Tigers led to him becoming a naturalized citizen.
When Ben was 10, he began playing Australian Rules Football and was quite a natural, garnering various championships and individual accolades. He still grew up playing basketball at the same time. He was one of those athletes who was so good at two sports that picking one to pursue professionally proved difficult. Basketball may have been the right play for him given how much success he has already encountered, and how much money he will make between salary and endorsements.
As Ben Simmons entered his teenage years, his family relocated to the United States, where he was able to test his wit against talented American players. He attended a school called Montverde Academy in Florida where he crushed the in-over-their-head competition with averages of 28 points, 11.9 rebounds, 4 assists, and two and a half steals per game while shooting a laughably-good 70.7% from the floor his senior year. For his college team, LSU, he put up great individual marks of 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 2.0 steals and 0.8 blocks per game, but his team finished with a disappointing 18-13 record. All this happened after they were labeled as one of the top squads in the NCAA based on Ben's arrival alone (ranked #21 in preseason polls). LSU didn't even earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament that year. Many people including myself began to doubt his ability given these poor team performances. If he's such a transcendent player, why isn't he elevating his team in big moments? The Philadelphia 76ers saw past that though as they took him with the first overall pick of the 2016 NBA draft.
He sat out his entire first year due to an unfortunate injury, but he obviously utilized that idle time on the sidelines well. By the time he strutted across center court for tipoff of his first official NBA game, he had a full year of NBA behind-the-scenes experience in addition to a familiarity with the professional ball-players lifestyle, as he saw his dad live it every day. Shortly after the season he started, he was already carrying himself like a player who had been in the league for years. I wholeheartedly think that having that one full year to adjust to the NBA daily lifestyle, training regiment, franchise atmosphere, and public figure expectations played a part in Ben's unprecedented rookie year.
While it's easy to get caught up in Ben's potential, he's got that one thing that we all know he needs to become proficient in - or else he won't last in the league: the jumper. He shot 54.5% from the field, but that nice number is mostly due to efficiency and power at the rim. He avoided the three-point line like the plague, and bestowed us with a ghastly 56% from the free throw line. Zach Kram from The Ringer uploaded this hilarious video of all of Ben Simmons attempted three-pointers as of late February, all of which have a common theme (see below). Ben Simmons takes his three-pointers about as seriously as a washed up Shaquille O'Neal pulling up from deep during the All-Star game.
Ben Simmons NBA 3-Pointers
Thankfully, shooting is something that can be easily remedied with hard work and a good training staff. If you're an avid NBA follower, then I don't even need to begin to tell you how important it is to have a 3 in your arsenal. Ben needs to take his long-ball seriously or defenders will just end up sagging off of him for the rest of his career in an effort to clog his driving and passing lanes. He actually shoots free throws with his left hand but lays it into the basket with his right, so there are some funky Markelle Fultz-like mechanical/mental overlaps that need to be sorted out.
Ben's situation is a lot like Lonzo Ball's. They're these uber-talented point guards who seem to do everything well except shoot. Ben is much more polished than Lonzo though. They can rebound, make plays, and run the floor but their shots are typically horrendous. Lonzo is a little more of a gunslinger though, I'd say Ben is a little more afraid to shoot. It's funny how he goes to the hole like William Wallace charging into battle, but he turns into Piglet from Winnie The Pooh once he hovers around that three-point line
When guys come into the league, it's hard to tell with the utmost certainty whether or not they're surefire superstars. Since I began watching basketball hardcore in 2008, Anthony Davis has been the only guy who was labeled as a transcendent player and is living up to it (when he's healthy). Ben Simmons seems to be the next transcendent dude. He needs to pay his dues and learn to shoot, but after that incredible rookie year, it sure feels like he's destined for NBA history with the combination of his 6'10 size, athleticism, fearlessness, and elevating skill. I get the feeling he's going to be a part of some amazing moments over the next few years. If he just gets a solid jumper, he could be such a dominating force. The mere thought of him with a three-pointer is scary. Who knows, the NBA might have to tweak the rules similar to how the NCAA outlawed dunking when Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar) was in college.
Comments