SLAM Magazine has started releasing their top 50 players in the NBA, with one notable member of the Philadelphia 76ers already cracking the list.
As the season draws nearer, speculation is at it’s highest. Wins and losses are being projected, while players’ potential production is being scrutinized well before they actually see the floor. SLAM Magazine is looking to help fill the void between now and opening night on Oct. 17 with their top 50 players in the NBA.
One member of the Philadelphia 76ers has already cracked the list early on at No. 49 — Ben Simmons.
Philadelphia 76ers
The list is based on expected production for next season, so the “he hasn’t played a game yet” argument is rendered almost useless. Simmons was often lauded as one of the best prospects of this decade when the Sixers selected him first overall back in 2016, and that should translate into immediate production next season. That’s especially true when you consider the fact that he’s had an entire season to prepare under the guidance of an NBA training staff.
Simmons is now stronger, both physically and mentally, than he was on draft night just over a year ago. He said himself that he’s ready to grab next season by the throat, while that general confidence could spread to the area of his game that needs improvement the most: shooting.
Few players boast Simmons’ vision with the basketball in his hands, much less 6-foot-10 rookies. He has an ability to see passing lanes and exploit angles that most players can’t match, while his physique gives him a mismatch in almost every scenario imaginable. He’s the embodiment of a potentially-elite point guard with the physical prowess of a center, and that in and of itself makes him special.
Simmons makes those around him better, while his high I.Q. is enough to yield consistent, high-level production during his rookie season. How confident — and how consistent — his jumper is will determine just how good he is right away, but nudging him into the top 50 is far from an overstatement.
In terms of pure talent, there aren’t many players who have Simmons’ gift for the game. We haven’t seen him play yet, so predicting immediate stardom in premature, but everything in his arsenal warrants some significant optimism as the 2017-18 campaign draws closer.
Next: 2018 NBA Draft Big Board 1.0
Dion Waiters kicked off the list at No. 50, and Simmons shouldn’t take too long to outshine the NBA’s most luscious island on a nightly basis.