Philadelphia 76ers: 5 goals for Ben Simmons in 2017-18
5. Play 75 games
A Jones fracture, the same injury that has previously sidelined Kevin Durant, C.J. McCollum, Brook Lopez and other stars, forced Ben Simmons to miss the entirety of the 2016-17 season.
The best way for Simmons to prove the injury won’t disrupt his future in the league is to simply step onto the court as often as possible.
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Among the 60 players selected in the 2016 NBA Draft class alongside Simmons, only Suns forward Marquese Chriss was in the starting lineup in 75 or more games. Chriss, Buddy Hield and Jamal Murray were the only members of the rookie class to appear in all 82 games.
As teams place a heavier emphasis on resting players and avoiding excessive fatigue, very few players step onto the court in all 82 games. The list of players to appear in each regular season contest for their team during 2016-17 season was down to 17.
Philadelphia hasn’t had a player appear in all 82 games since Evan Turner and Spencer Hawes accomplished the feat in 2012-13, as the team is extremely cautious in its attempts to not overextend its players.
Although Simmons has been medically cleared for some time, he has been reluctant to push himself too quickly. Injuries are a concern for every player, but fear shouldn’t hold back Simmons following an extended period of time off.
Expect Philadelphia to intentionally rest Simmons from some contests, but 75 appearances is a reasonable goal for his initial season in the league.