The Sixer Sense
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Ben Simmons is a Winner – Believe The Hype

By Jonathan Kelly

Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports /
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Ever since the Philadelphia 76ers selected Ben Simmons as the no. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, the expectations have been multiplying.

Ben Simmons has drawn countless comparisons to many past and present NBA Superstars. The list includes Blake Griffin, LeBron James and Magic Johnson, just to name a few. While some aspects of his game do relate to these players, it is fairly obvious that these comparisons are extreme to say the least. One thing however, remains clear – Ben Simmons is a winner.

A History Of Winning

From an early age, it was easy to see that Ben Simmons was poised for greatness. Whether he was playing footy or basketball, Simmons’ athleticism made it easy for him to stand out among his peers. At the young age of 15, he led his Australian team to a Silver medal in the FIBA Under-17 World Championship.

As a junior, Simmons begin to truly showcase his talent as an elite basketball player. He was voted MVP of the NBA top 100 camp and all things aside – he kept improving.

During his senior season, he averaged 28 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 4 Assists to go along with 2.5 Steals. This was against the best high school basketball teams in the country and still, Simmons winning mentality remained constant.

After winning their third consecutive national championship at Montverde Academy, Simmons was named USA TODAY boys basketball player of the year and went on to win the Gatorade National Boys Basketball Player of the Year award. It is no wonder why he was the number one overall recruit in the class of 2015.

Ben Simmons made the pivotal decision to commit to LSU and become their biggest five-star recruit since Shaquille O’Neal. A decision that is still discussed to this day. What is interesting is that he didn’t take the “normal” route of other big name recruits by signing with Kentucky, Kansas or Duke. Rather he chose to go to a less prestigious basketball team to become their leader, to make others around him better and most importantly, to win. 

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    • Unfortunately, the LSU Tigers didn’t end up winning as much as expected. After a promising start to the season, they would go on to be one of the bubble teams that found themselves on the outside looking in for the NCAA tournament. This was no fault to Ben Simmons though as he averaged 19.2 PPG, 11.8 RPG, 4.8 APG and 2 steals. He led the Tigers in FG% and earned the USBWA Freshman of the Year as well as first team All-American.

    What’s Next For Ben Simmons?

    Once again, Simmons faces countless expectations for not only himself but for the entire Philadelphia 76ers team. Don’t get me wrong, nobody is expecting them to win the NBA Championship. Even making the playoffs would be extremely impressive. In that regard, everyone expects to see the Sixers take a big step forward with the pieces they have assembled this season. Much of these expectations lie on Ben Simmons’ shoulders.

    Yet again, he is expected to come to a new place and immediately be the team leader. Before he can legally buy a drink of alcohol, he is expected to change the losing atmosphere of a 10-win Sixers organization. Stacked atop the overwhelming pressure of being the first overall pick, Simmons is also expected to be a franchise-changing player for the 76ers. At just 20 years old, this will be a lot to handle. So far, it would seem that Simmons is ready for the challenge.

    His peers are not as bullish on him “Being the next greatest athlete since LeBron James” though. In a recent poll by the NBA rookies, Simmons finished third place when asked who would finish as NBA Rookie of the Year. In recent years, no player aside from Ben Simmons has had the amount of skepticism as LeBron James did when entering the NBA straight out of high school.

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    One thing is clear about the Philadelphia 76ers season, Ben Simmons will have the ball in his hands a ton. His expected usage rate alone should make him a favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year by a landslide. He is in the perfect situation to put up numbers this season, all while still developing his game and improving.

    His Journey To Stardom

    Simmons will need to develop a consistent mid range jumper if the Sixers are going to make any real noise this season. NBA defenses will be quick to give Simmons room if they know he is shy about pulling up. That, along with his free throw shooting are Simmons greatest weaknesses according to critics.

    Let’s not forget that Blake Griffin continuously had shooting struggles when entering the League as he averaged just 29.8% from mid-range and just 61% from the charity stripe through his first three seasons collectively. He has now improved to just under 39% mid range through the last three seasons and over 72% from the charity stripe. This is obviously just one example but it goes without saying that Simmons could very likely improve both his mid range and free throw shooting, thus making him the entire package.

    He already has the flashy play-making ability that the fans love to see. Simmons’ insane athletic ability quickly reminds you of Blake Griffin. His passing and court vision are what brings the comparisons to Magic Johnson. His popularity and unheralded attention are what brings the LeBron James conversations. But to be honest, Simmons is not and will never become any of those players.

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    It is hard to pinpoint an exact comparison to Ben Simmons.  Perhaps that’s due to no previous or current player displaying his exact skill set and playing style. Simmons can achieve the franchise player stature, but to dos so, he must make his own path. A player must undertake a life long commitment to achieve greatness in the NBA. His key will be focusing on individual games and improving every day rather than taking on the entire season. The road to success begins with something that Ben Simmons is all too familiar with – winning.