Philadelphia 76ers: Top 10 Sixers busts since 2000
By Uriah Young
Ben Simmons: Top 10 Sixers busts since 2000
Some said there’d never be another Oscar Robertson until Magic Johnson arrived in the NBA. Then, some said there’d never be another Magic until Lebron was drafted. Some declared there’d never be another Lebron until Ben Simmons entered the 2016 NBA Draft.
Wait a minute. Wait. Just. A. Minute. We know how ridiculous the Ben Simmons saga unfolded, but what makes him the greatest bust in Sixers history? It’s all about hype, right?
If Simmons had it his way, he would have declared for the NBA a year prior, propping himself up as too good to play at an amateur level in the NCAA. The LSU Tigers saw Simmons display his raw talent for one season, and he racked up numerous highlights. He could pass, rebound, and run the break better than any guard at his level. He was crowned LeBron 2.0, and his athleticism was unmatched. Then, came the summer league. Sound familiar?
Like Fultz did the previous year, Simmons showed out in Las Vegas, demonstrating superb court vision, tenacious defense, and even the ability to shoot from the perimeter! The Philly fan base was ready to run up the Rocky steps and climb the William Penn statue after witnessing what Simmons did in summer league. Then, the regular season came. Sound familiar?
Once his debut came and went, and weeks turned into months of the 2017 season, it became apparent that the 76ers not only had one guard afraid to shoot jump shots – they had two! The Ben Simmons shooting quagmire is one of historic proportions. After winning NBA Rookie of the Year, his numbers began to decline, especially his scoring. If there was ever a more diffident shooter in the NBA, Ben Simmons would give that player a run for his money.
Yes, Simmons was an amazing passer and an All-Defensive player while in Philly. However, he never committed himself to adding a perimeter shot to his skillset. The frustration for fans who’d see him warm up shooting threes before games left them perplexed. His infamous summer workouts in upscale Los Angeles gyms made Sixers fans even more incredulous. So much for not needing to attend college to refine his offensive game.
The red flags went up as fast as fireworks when he filmed a documentary during his freshman year at LSU. The audacity to declare himself too good to play at the college level pointed out how immature and haughty he was as a young player who had yet to win anything other than individual accolades.
The city of Philadelphia has had to put up with many awkward trade requests and team turmoil over decades, but the Ben Simmons situation takes the cake.
After the Atlanta debacle in the 2021 playoff series where Simmons shot a historic low 34 percent from the free throw line and was afraid to dunk on Trae Young, the writing was on the wall. His time in Philly was up, and the hold-out unceremoniously began.
At the time, I was one of few people who said Simmons should be traded while he had value, but fans scoffed at the idea. They were under the spell of Simmons’ athleticism and potential only to be faced with the inevitable.
Simmons and other assets were sent to Brooklyn for James Harden, and the 6-foot-10-inch point guard with so much promise ended up being the biggest bust in franchise history.
Agree with the list order? Is there a player missing? Let us know in the comment section.
