Ben Simmons is already an elite defender

By Christopher Kline | Jan 10, 2018

PHILADELPHIA, PA - DECEMBER 21: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts after a made basket against the Toronto Raptors at the Wells Fargo Center on December 21, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

The Philadelphia 76ers are getting more than just pretty passes from Ben Simmons.

Aside from not being able to shoot, the most critical area of Ben Simmons’ scouting report coming out of LSU was his defense. He always had the tools and instincts, but never showed the necessary effort. It’s almost like college ball was a mandatory NBA stepping stone that didn’t really matter for the consensus No. 1 talent.

That meant most people labeled Simmons a below-average defender, disregarding potential improvement and the obvious athletic gifts he possessed since high school.

We as basketball fans have trouble with immediate reactions and forget that, especially with younger players, it’s about projecting their impact long term. Not everything you see in a college game will play out the exact same way at the next level, whether it be good or bad.

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Simmons, of course, has been a prime example of that. He’s already one of the best defensive point guards in the NBA, playing a severely underrated role in the Philadelphia 76ers‘ two-way success. Heck, it’s defense that cements his All-Star case more than anything else.

At 6-foot-10, Simmons’ is a true athletic unicorn. He’s quick enough to check point guards on a regular basis, while his size and strength allows him to switch into the post and cover bigs when needed. In between, he’s also an incredible roamer — getting into passing lanes and turning defense into transition offense.

His instincts genuinely are LeBron James-esque. That’s arguably the most similar aspect of their game. If you float a pass or make a questionable read, there’s a good chance Simmons is there to break it up.

Versatility is paramount in today’s NBA, and that’s what Simmons provides in every possible way defensively. Alongside Robert Covington, he gives Brett Brown a pair of long, high-end defenders to switch around while Joel Embiid anchors the interior. You’d struggle to find a better defensive core in the NBA.

He’s currently fifth in the league in steals, averaging a shade over 1.9 per game. He’s also third among NBA point guards in Defensive Real Plus-Minus, trailing only Tyus Jones and Dejounte Murray. That, coming from a high-usage offensive player, is impressive.

Simmons still has some rookie moments on both ends, and he’s far from flawless. But his defensive effort has been one of the most important factors in the Sixers’ success — and his Rookie of the Year case — all year, despite the massive emphasis placed on his offensive game.

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The Sixers got a gem on sides of the ball.