Ben Simmons appeared on the ESPN Radio show Mike & Mike the morning following the NBA Draft to discuss his future in a Philadelphia 76ers uniform.
The day following the NBA Draft is a great day for Philadelphia 76ers fans. But it’s even better for Ben Simmons, who now is officially the top overall pick in the draft, and is about to move to Philadelphia where he will sign a multi-million dollar contract and start his professional career.
Like any player, Simmons has dreamed of this day since he was a child, and it has to be an incredible feeling to see it all play out.
The morning following the draft, Simmons appeared on the ESPN Radio show Mike & Mike in the Morning to talk about his night and his future in Philadelphia. Here is the transcription of the interview:
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MM: At what point did you know this was going to be a certainty, did you know before your name was called that you were going No. 1?
BS: I had an idea, but you know mostly when my name was called, of course I didn’t know 100 percent. I felt very comfortable once it all happened.
MM: How comfortable do you feel now? Are you home, or do they have you somewhere in Philadelphia?
BS: I’m in a hotel right now, I’m about to head to Philadelphia in a couple hours.
MM: What did Adam Silver say to you as you walked across the stage?
BS: Just congratulations and enjoy it. So, you know, it’s a special moment, try to enjoy the moment since so much is happening.
MM: Now, you’re going to Philadelphia, you ate a cheesesteak on Jimmy Fallon the other night… What do you know about the city you’re going to?
BS: It’s a very passionate city, sports, a lot of history, so I’m looking forward to learning a lot more about the city.
MM: Everybody broke your game down… what you need to work on… what do you feel you need to work on to make yourself the best pro you could possibly be?
BS: I need to work on everything, honestly, dribbling, to shooting, to passing, to rebounding, there’s not one thing that I’ve peaked at… Everything is very important.
MM: And the guy that you’ll be playing for is the coach Brett Brown who coached your dad once upon a time in Australia, I saw him talking about how he’s known you since you were a little kid, what do you know about the coach?
BS: Yeah, I’ve known him since I was a little kid. He’s a great person, a great coach. I’m looking forward to getting there and actually working with him.
MM: What has he said to you about what his expectation for your role is? I saw him quoted recently saying people compare your game to LeBron James, just based upon your size. He said he could envision you playing the game the way Draymond Green plays it in Golden State. What do you think of that comparison?
BS: Definitely. I’d love to play the point-forward position. I really like running the point, and would play the four or whatever is needed. I think it will be a great transition.
MM: Who do you compare yourself to?
BS: Nobody, honestly. I just try to take pieces of everybody’s game and add it to mine. Everybody has their special attribute or skill set that they have.
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MM: How did last night’s event compare to how you imagined it being?
BS: It was amazing, it was exactly how I imagined it. I had a lot of fun, I enjoyed it. Overall, I’m ready to get to Philly and meet everybody.