Philadelphia 76ers: 5 goals for Ben Simmons in 2017-18

2. Prove he has a professional level jump shot

The biggest knock on Ben Simmons following his college career was his lack of a potent jump shot, a necessity if he plans to thrive as the point guard in Philadelphia.

While at LSU, Simmons shot 56 percent from the field primarily because the bulk of his shot attempts came at the rim. Simmons attempted just three shots from 3-point range, connecting once.

If he doesn’t possess a viable jump shot, opponents defending him in pick-and-roll situations could simply relax against Simmons on the perimeter and clog the lane, cutting off his passing options.

Simmons addressed the concern during his exit interview last season, claiming he spent the majority of last season refining his jump shot so he can become a complete offensive threat for the 76ers.

Rapid improvement is entirely possible, as LeBron James knocked down 63 shots from 3-point range during his rookie season and connected on 29 percent of his attempts from beyond the arc. The following year, he shot 35.1 percent and sank 108 shots from long range.

If Simmons can post similar figures in his first two seasons, Philadelphia may have landed one of the most special players in the league.