The Sixer Sense
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The key to Ben Simmons’ jumper is confidence, which appears to be growing

By Christopher Kline

LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Ben Simmons #25 of Philadelphia 76ers shoots a free throw during the game against the Miami Heat during the 2016 Las Vegas Summer League on July 15, 2016 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NV - JULY 15: Ben Simmons #25 of Philadelphia 76ers shoots a free throw during the game against the Miami Heat during the 2016 Las Vegas Summer League on July 15, 2016 at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. 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 Garrett Ellwood/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Philadelphia 76ers rookie Ben Simmons has never been the greatest of shooters, but confidence alone could play a major role in improving his jumper.

I’ll take you back to a moment last year, during the 2016 NBA Summer League. It was the Philadelphia 76ers against the Los Angeles Lakers, and Ben Simmons was operating at full health. It was one of the first professional games for the reigning No. 1 overall pick, and he was given the chance to put on a show against one of the league’s largest media hot-spots.

Simmons was operating as the de facto point guard, which meant the ball was in his hands quite a bit. That’s when Ivica Zubac was switched his way — giving one of the quickest 6-foot-10 players in the league a clear line of fire against a slow-footed, 7-foot-1 rookie who wasn’t fully in NBA shape.

Philadelphia 76ers
Philadelphia 76ers /

Philadelphia 76ers

Here’s a look back at that play:

"The Lakers’ 32nd overall pick took a solid two steps back, leaving Simmons essentially unguarded for what would typically be an easy midrange jumper. Simmons, instead of taking the shot, decided to drive directly at Zubac and dish the ball off to a teammates underneath the basket."

This play has stayed fresh in my mind for quite some time, and it shows precisely what worried scouts when watching Simmons play. Not only did he lack a jumper, but he was devoid of the confidence needed to attempt one.

Simmons, for all the flak his shot has taken, isn’t a bad scorer. His touch around the basket is downright impressive, while his physical gifts alone allow him to carve out space and hit a variety of shots when operating within 15 feet of the rim. But Simmons never made a concerted effort to stretch that scoring out to the perimeter, instead relying on his physique alone to overwhelm inferior defenders — something he can’t do as often in the NBA.

It’s that hesitance to shoot that had me worried, as he differed even when presented with an open shot with resistance. Like the watered-down killer instinct argument that used to plague LeBron, Simmons didn’t always know when it was time to venture outside his comfort zone and attack — and that almost all ties back to confidence.

This season, however, could mark a significant shift in Simmons’ mindset. Not only has he had an entire season to tweak his game, but he’s oozing confidence on the national stage. He has already said he wants to be the best player in the league, while previously noting that he’s ready to “grab [next season] by the throat.”

In an interview with The Age during his basketball camp in Melbourne, Simmons applied that confidence to his jumper.

"“My shot has always been fine, but I’ve never had to shoot the ball as much so now it’s a different level but I’m very confident in what I need to do.”"

Saying his shot has always been fine ties back to another point I made earlier: Simmons’ scoring touch has always been good. His feel for shots around the rim is elite for a player at his age, while 19 points per contest during his collegiate run — even while differing to those around him — is nothing to scoff at.

We haven’t seen a version of Ben Simmons that’s willing to take jumpers and look for his own offense outside of the painted area on a consistent basis, and that’s what we’ll need to see come next season. While his playmaking is what makes him special, defenses can gameplan around that if he doesn’t pose any remote threat on the perimeter.

Last year’s Summer League did give us a promising taste of what that could look like. He became more aggressive towards the end of the Sixers’ tournament run, and that could be taken as even more assurance that his jumper — whatever kinks it may have — could be functional next season.

Nobody should expect Simmons to light it up from deep in 2017, but a reliable mid-range game is the first step towards what could be one of the league’s most dynamic offensive repertoires in a few years time.

Next: Sixers' health is (finally) trending in the right direction

At 6-foot-10, Simmons already has the speed and intelligence needed to operate one step ahead of most defenders. Adding a viable scoring threat to that makes Simmons an almost unavoidable mismatch for some teams, and it’s his confidence that will play the biggest role in getting there.