Philadelphia 76ers: 5 takeaways from 2017-18 Media Day

5. Ben Simmons is ready to go

While the enters the season as a rookie, the experience Simmons gained off the court last season is bound to hold him in good stead come opening night:

"“Breaking my foot, obviously I had a lot of time to myself, to grow as a person. I just really looked at what I wanted to be as a player and a person….I think I’ve grown on and off the court.”"

Despite not having stepped on an NBA floor, Sixers’ head coach Brett Brown has essentially already given Simmons the keys to take control of the offense:

"“He’s the first coach to finally give me the opportunity. He obviously sees something in me. I believe in myself and I believe I can do it. There’s not many people who can really guard me off the dribble, the full length of the court. It’s going to be a mismatch problem a lot of the time.”"

At 6’10”, and referred to by coach Brown as “Usain Bolt” for his ability to get up and down the floor, Simmons provides the Sixers with a distinct advantage and point of difference as the team’s primary ball-handler.

Moving forward, and once the team starts to jell, Simmons is bound to form a lethal partnership with a fellow rookie, and another point guard coming out of college, Markelle Fultz:

"“He’s a great player, a good friend, our chemistry is getting better and better every day, on and off the court.”"

Having only recently turned 21, the partnership Simmons can potentially form with Fultz and co. for the next decade is simply salivating for Sixers onlookers.