The point of “The Process” was to bring in as much draft capital as possible, building through the draft instead of free agency. While Sam Hinkie didn’t draft Ben Simmons in 2017, the No. 1 pick was the fruit of his labor. Bryan Colangelo was the beneficiary of an elite asset trove.
After years of tanking, Simmons was the high-level prospect the Sixers were searching for — an elite talent garnering comparisons to LeBron James and Magic Johnson. He even missed his first season, officially establishing himself as a Process Sixer.
Last season, we learned why Simmons was the consensus No. 1 pick. Jumper or not, Simmons is an elite athlete with generational playmaking skills. His ability to find teammates and whip on-time, on-target passes is almost unrivaled among players his size.
At 6-foot-10, Simmons can also defend all five positions, giving him an underrated ceiling on that end. He’s the do-it-all, versatile playmaker that the modern NBA craves. As long as he becomes a more well-rounded scorer, it’s easy to envision Simmons becoming a top-10 (or even top-five) NBA player at his peak.
In his first season, Simmons averaged 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game. He was the runaway NBA Rookie of the Year, regardless of what Utah Jazz fans might say about Donovan Mitchell. He posted 12 triple-doubles, the most posted by a rookie since Oscar Robertson.
He’s the elite talent Hinkie was building toward. He’s the elite talent the Sixers were never getting in free agency. He’s why the process began, and why “The Process” worked. The Sixers are primed to compete for years to come, and Simmons is a big reason for that.