Will Ben Simmons Leave a Legacy Like Allen Iverson?

Allen Iverson left an everlasting legacy on the Philadelphia 76ers. Can the top overall draft pick from this year, Ben Simmons, do the same?

Allen Iverson is a name that’s almost immediately related to the Philadelphia 76ers. Although the Sixers franchise was historical and successful long before Iverson, there’s no doubting that Iverson  took the modern-day 76ers and drastically changed them in a good way.

Iverson was a player full of attitude and spirit that really embodied the blue-collar mantra that the entire city of Philadelphia is known for. The fans are ruthless, as was Iverson. He played with swagger, and the black jerseys the Sixers wore even showed that.

Looking back, there’s an incredible legacy Iverson left. Although he never gave the city of Philly a title, he did lead them on a great playoff run that resulted in them losing to the Los Angeles Lakers in the Finals one year. Aside from that, the Sixers were in the playoffs several of the years that Iverson was with the team, leading them.

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As a Sixer, Iverson averaged 27.6 points, 3.9 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game. He shot 43 percent from the field as a Sixer.

Anyone who is below the age of 25 or so basically thinks of Iverson whenever they think of the “good times” of the Sixers.

Just recently, the 11-time All-Star was inducted into the Hall of Fame. It was a perfect way to top off the incredible career Iverson had, and it was well deserved.

Iverson was drafted in 1996 with the top overall pick in the NBA Draft out of Georgetown. 20 years later, the Sixers would finally obtain the top overall pick yet again, this time drafting Ben Simmons out of LSU.

The precedent for the Sixers and the top overall pick considering the legacy Iverson left is pretty daunting. Many fans are wondering whether or not Simmons can live up to the hype.

We won’t know for sure after this season. It’s going to take a while to gauge what Simmons can do, and whether or not he’s a franchise player. Simmons is being tasked with leading the offense right off of the bat, which gives him a good start at being an impactful player like Iverson.

This is something that occurs over the course of a career. Will Simmons be an All-Star? A league MVP? A Finals MVP? Will he be clutch in important playoff games?

Even this year, he could begin his resume with a Rookie of the Year Award.

Iverson was a good passer, but took it upon himself when he came into the NBA to score more, and take control of the game by doing the bulk of the finishing for his team. Simmons, although an incredible passer, needs to learn to do the same from time to time. That’s not to say that Iverson’s game should be emulated by Simmons, but Simmons does need to add more skills to his arsenal.

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Simmons is saying the right things so far. He wants to improve. He wants to learn. He also doesn’t want to be compared to any other players because he wants to create his own path. But he also can’t forget about the past of this team, and the precedent that has been set for him with Iverson’s legacy.

Simmons has the potential and the base to become a player as impactful as Iverson. He certainly could be described as a bit more “poised” as well, not being as much of a “loose cannon” as Iverson.

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The legacy Simmons will leave is not something we can force, nor is it something Simmons can try to string along himself. It’s going to come along with his dedication to the game, his want to be good, and the pieces that are placed around him. Simmons certainly could leave a legacy as good as Iverson, but it might be difficult.