The Sixer Sense
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Ben Simmons is ready to show out next season

By Christopher Kline

CAMDEN, NJ- SEPTEMBER 23: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers works out at the official opening of The Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex on September 23, 2016 in Camden, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
CAMDEN, NJ- SEPTEMBER 23: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers works out at the official opening of The Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex on September 23, 2016 in Camden, New Jersey. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2016 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons has had a year to fine tune his game, and he seems more than ready to show those improvements off.

The Philadelphia 76ers are, in the wise words of Gerald Henderson, on the come up.

With Ben Simmons and Markelle Fultz joining J.J. Redick as the newest additions to the Sixers’ starting rotation, Brett Brown finally has a team worth noting in the playoff conversation. As the East devolves into chaos and the fruits of Sam Hinkie’s long-labored endeavors come to fruition, Philadelphia finds itself in a position to outperform teams on the basis of pure talent alone.

There’s obviously the youth factor, and that could limit the extent of their upside, but there’s reason to believe that the roster will perform at a high level regardless. There’s enough experience to stay afloat, and the abundance of skill is more than indicative of a competitive roster.

Ben Simmons is particularly excited.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BXgI4wYg2xr/

Simmons has been talked about far less than some of the other rookies in this year’s class — largely because he’s been off the national radar for the better part of a season. As one of the more highly-touted No. 1 picks in recent memory, the lack of hype surrounding Simmons is odd considering just how high the praise was just one year prior.

He garnered (slightly exaggerated) comps to both LeBron James and Magic Johnson, yet Lonzo Ball is now the prohibitive favorite to win Rookie of the Year.

That post above is more than a body shot on Instragram. It’s a fairly detailed explanation of why Simmons is in such a good position heading into the 2017-18 campaign. Not only is he talented, but he has a wealth of experience to lean on that no other rookie has.

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Simmons spent last season on the bench in typical Sixers fashion after a Jones fracture he suffered in training camp. That foot injury kept him out of head-to-head competition all year, while the extent of his practice was obviously limited.

That doesn’t mean there weren’t plenty of ways for Simmons to grow as a player. He not only added to his already-impressive frame, but he has clearly put in some work on his jump shot. While it’d be an overstatement to expect anywhere close to consistent 3-point shooting next season, a more reliable mid-range game — something he already flashed in Summer League in 2016 — is wholly feasible.

Simmons has always had excellent touch on his shots, something that was on full display around the basket. He’s an ambidextrous finisher who can knock down floaters and hook shots from a variety of angles. The innate feel for scoring is there, it’s just a matter of him becoming more comfortable with taking shots from greater distances.

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Perhaps the biggest key to gaining that comfort is confidence — something Simmons seems to ooze in that post. Passiveness was something plenty of people knocked Simmons for in the pre-draft process, while his general effort became the talking point that many critics used to devalue the rest of Simmons’ repertoire.

If he’s ready to grab next season by the throat, that could be a troubling sign for those on the other side of the ball.

He also mentions that he’s “had a year to learn,” something that shouldn’t go overlooked. As we’ve seen with Joel Embiid, getting used to the rigors of NBA life for a season (or two) can be a significant leg up, both physically and mentally. Simmons is already used to the Sixers’ system, while his work with players like LeBron James should only prepare him more for once he actually hits the floor.

Simmons now has a base understand of the NBA and the general livelihood that comes with it, despite not actually playing in any games. That’s invaluable experience for any player, much less somebody who’ll be tasked with being the primary distributor for a potential playoff team.

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We’re going to see Ben Simmons as his best next season, and that’s an exciting thought for anybody rational fan of basketball.