Whether Philadelphia 76ers fans like to admit it or not, a youthful Ben Simmons was one of the greatest players ever to wear the jersey. His explosive movements, top-tier playmaking, and his ability to turn a game on its head were a sight to behold. Reminiscing about Simmons' potential is sad for a host of reasons, most notably that had he reached the peak of his powers, he would have been the driving force behind the present-day Sixers' star-studded roster.
The streets should never forget prime Ben Simmons
No 76ers fan was happier than I was to see Simmons' turbulent stint in Philadelphia finally end in 2021. However, heightened emotions shouldn't cloud what a phenomenal impact the LSU alum made on the franchise at such a young age.
In fact, FanSided's Senior NBA Expert Josh Cornelissen placed Simmons as the 13th-greatest Sixer in his Top 30 ranking of the franchise's best-ever players. While some fans may initially disagree with the analysis because of how his time in South Philly ended, when thinking rationally, this is probably a fair statement when breaking down what Simmons achieved during his tenure.
As Josh states, "He [Simmons] made the All-Star team in the next three seasons, twice earning All-Defense honors and once making an All-NBA team."
After winning the 2018 Rookie of the Year award, Simmons played at an incredible level on both sides of the ball that few Sixers in history could boast.
In his pomp, the now 30-year-old was simply sublime to watch. Throughout the 2018-19 season, Simmons averaged 16.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists per game, while shooting 56.3% from the floor.
Simmons' calamitous mistake in Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference Semifinals is what he will forever be remembered for in Philadelphia. He opted to pass up a wide-open basket to put the ball in Matisse Thybulle's hands and essentially sealed the 76ers' doomed fate. Sixers fans will never forgive Simmons for this moment. In fact, it triggered one of the most sensational career falloffs in NBA history.
Simmons' fall looks even more dramatic in 2026
The Butterfly Effect would suggest that if Ben Simmons had made that basket, circumstances would have changed forever. That could mean Joel Embiid might never have suffered his devastating knee injury, Jaylen Brown might never have been traded from the Boston Celtics, and LeBron James certainly wouldn't have landed in Philadelphia.
Hypothetically, if Simmons reached his untapped potential with the 76ers, this current roster would be unstoppable. Simmons was on course to become an elite two-way forward who would have created the perfect platform for LeBron to focus solely on dictating the Sixers' offense. Additionally, Brown and Tyrese Maxey could have alternated on-ball actions to add variety to Philadelphia's blueprint -- this is before we factor Embiid into the equation.
Ben Simmons' future with the Philadelphia 76ers was limitless. Would his salary demands have prevented this star-studded roster from being constructed? Most likely.
One thing we know for sure is that the two-time All-Star is one of the greatest " what-if" stories the NBA has ever witnessed. The excitement around this current Sixers squad only highlights the sad reality Simmons now lives.
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