Evaluating Ben Simmons’ Summer League Debut

Here’s how Ben Simmons did in his NBA Summer League debut with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Even though his debut didn’t end quite the way he wanted it to with having to leave the game due to leg cramps, Ben Simmons turned enough heads to warrant his draft selection in the Philadelphia 76ers‘ first Summer League game.

The NBA is all about versatility nowadays with forwards and guards who can play and defend multiple positions as well as move the ball with ease. Simmons showed that his passing ability might be a little better out of the gate than we initially thought.

On multiple occasions Simmons threaded the needle on passes in transition and even got off a few no-look dimes in the half court off drives to the rim.

He’s the real deal when it comes to setting up his teammates and making everyone around him better, a big reason he finished with five assists in just 23 minutes of play.

Related Story: 25 Best Players to Play for the Philadelphia 76ers

It wasn’t just his passing that impressed though. He looked more comfortable on the court overall both pushing the ball as a point guard of sorts on offense and shooting both from the foul line and the mid-range.

More from Philadelphia 76ers

• That escalated quickly: How the Harden-Morey situation intensified
• 3 NBA superstars with legacies on the line heading into 2023–24
• Ranking the 4 riskiest boom-or-bust NBA teams in 2023–24
• NBA Rumors: Stalled trade talks may lead to Blazers, 76ers keeping stars
• NBA Trades: This Blazers, Heat, 76ers, and Clippers swap would alter NBA

He was 6-for-6 from the free throw line off the three fouls he drew, which is an improvement from his 67 percent shooting from the charity stripe in college. His mechanics looked much tighter with his elbow tucked in and a constant motion from beginning to end.

If he can hit around 80 percent of his free throws in the pros, it opens up his game so much and allows him to act as an efficient scorer for his team while still focusing on getting other guys looks.

Not only did he convert on easy free throw opportunities but he connected on a jumper from about 15 feet out with relative ease.

Simmons stepped into triple-threat position and after scanning the floor for a second to see where his teammate were he launched up a smooth shot and drilled it in his opponent’s face.

That’s the Simmons we didn’t see enough of at LSU. Too many times he passed up easy jump shots to make a pass to a teammate on offense who had no business taking it instead.

Developing and becoming more consistent hitting that type of shot is something he needs to continue to work on because it gives him a better chance of catching his man off the dribble and getting to the basket.

When someone can’t hit a shot from outside on offense, it gives defenders room to leave a little cushion and play back knowing the opposing man will either attempt to drive or pass out to another guy.

Simmons is a physical player who has the handle and quickness to get around his man, but eventually he could run into too many brick walls and either turn the ball over or draw charges that plant him on the bench.

As long as his shot is falling the defense has to respect it and play up on him, in which he can utilize his ability to blow past his man and score at the rim or kick the ball out off the drive.

More from Hoops Habit

• 7 Players the Miami Heat might replace Herro with by the trade deadline
• Meet Cooper Flagg: The best American prospect since LeBron James
• Are the Miami Heat laying the groundwork for their next super team?
• Sophomore Jump: 5 second-year NBA players bound to breakout
• NBA Trades: The Lakers bolster their frontcourt in this deal with the Pacers

Defensively Simmons was active on the glass and getting out on the break from there, but a few of his rotations were sloppy at best and at times he looked a little lazy in terms of not staying with his man and remaining fully engaged on that end of the floor.

He has all the talent to develop into one of the better two-way players in the game, but it’ll take time for him to adjust to the speed of the NBA game.

While it wasn’t encouraging to see Simmons leave the game early, it was only due to cramping, meaning there aren’t any injury concerns.

He even acknowledged after the game that he needs to drink more fluids and take better care of his body, so as long as he learned his lesson there’s no need to worry there.

Simmons justified why he was picked first in the 2016 draft in his first bit of NBA action, but it was only one game. He’ll need to show off that jumper more and prove he can bring a competitive motor on both ends of the floor night after night before we can really say how high his ceiling is.

More hoops habit: The NBA's 50 Greatest Duos Of All-Time

Still, it was a solid debut for the rookie in Philly.