The Sixer Sense
Fansided

The Philadelphia 76ers Selecting Ben Simmons Saga

By Bret Stuter

Mar 23, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; LSU freshman Ben Simmons (right) sits in the front row during a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 23, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; LSU freshman Ben Simmons (right) sits in the front row during a game between the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Milwaukee Bucks at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
5 of 6
Next
Jan 16, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. LSU defeated Arkansas 76-74. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 16, 2016; Baton Rouge, LA, USA; LSU Tigers forward Ben Simmons (25) against the Arkansas Razorbacks during the second half of a game at the Pete Maravich Assembly Center. LSU defeated Arkansas 76-74. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /

Heading to the NBA Draft

At 19, Simmons was  voted the best player in American high school basketball. Tomorrow, he will be the first selected player to join 2016 National Basketball Association (NBA) draft. At that spot, he will become the top starting salary of nearly $5 million.  But this is not about the money.

Australian teenager Ben Simmons was listed at 6 ‘9 1/2 ” (207 centimetres) and 229 pounds (104 kilograms). By the time of the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons stands 6’10 1/4″ and 240 pounds with a 7’0.5″ wingspan.

Ben had his choice of virtually any major college basketball program, but he elected to join the Louisiana State University basketball team.

“His (David Simmon’s) son (Ben) is finesse and a 3 (small forward), 1 (point guard), 4 (power forward). Really different.”-Brett Brown

One of Simmons’ recent tweets showed a drawer full of protein shakes: “Stocked up! Gain gain gain.” Liam and Sean, who often go months without seeing their younger brother, both say they’ve been shocked by the size of him.

"“His body type has changed,” says Sean. “It’s almost an unfair advantage, but it’s a credit to him, because that’s what’s been driving him to his weights sessions at 6am. I remember at one point he was eating nori, just seaweed, because his trainer told him to. That’s the kind of commitment he has.”"

That commitment gets lost in the translation. Many see the young man who had so much come seemingly so easy to him. But the reality is that we simply have not been there to see the life long effort to become this gifted.

Next: The Player