4. He will make an All-Defense team
Simmons was quietly one of the best defenders in the NBA last season. Jokes aside, that’s incredibly rare for a rookie — and something he can build off of in year two.
At 6-foot-10, Simmons has a unique set of physical gifts. Even in the increasingly versatile NBA, there aren’t many players who can defend all five positions. Simmons fits that mold, with the lateral quickness to guard Russell Westbrook and the size to bang underneath.
Simmons flashed defensive potential at LSU, but it wasn’t until last season that he showed the willingness to consistently put forth the effort. His instincts and burst allow him to excel off the ball, exploding into passing lanes and making the occasional weakside block.
At his position, Simmons’ block percentage ranked in the 95th percentile. His steal percentage ranked in the 88th percentile. His blend of size and quickness allows him to impact plays all over the floor, often turning turnovers into transition opportunities on the other end.
Simmons will once again be a key cog in the Sixers’ elite two-way core. Alongside Embiid and Robert Covington, the Sixers should grade out as one of the NBA’s best defensive teams next season. A solid chunk of their success will be tied to Simmons’ versatility.
It’s difficult for teams to get multiple All-Defense members in the same season. The Pelicans, with Anthony Davis and Jrue Holiday, were the only teams to accomplish that last season. Yet, despite Covington and Embiid being frontrunners in that conversation, Simmons has proven himself capable of reaching that level.
Next season, it just might happen.