Hoops Habit
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Philadelphia 76ers: Let Ben Simmons develop on his own time

By Mathew Kennedy

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 15: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up before the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on December 15, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 15: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers warms up before the game against the Brooklyn Nets at Barclays Center on December 15, 2019 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Matteo Marchi/Getty Images) /
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NBA Power Rankings Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons
Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

Focus on what he CAN do

Many casual fans don’t realize this, but when Simmons was in college at LSU, he was a power forward. His on-ball gifts are what convinced the Philadelphia 76ers to play him at point guard once they drafted him (it also helped that they had consistently been drafting big men for most of the 2010s).

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The fact that Simmons is producing as well as he is despite only playing the position for three years should be applauded. It also helps explain why he hasn’t developed a jump shot at this point in his career — he’s never had to.

When it comes to every other aspect of basketball, Ben Simmons goes above and beyond. At only such a young age, he’s already established himself as a top-tier point guard in the league — again, only three years into playing the position.

He passes the ball with precision and decisiveness. He’s a rebounding machine. He’s easily one of the best defenders in the league, and one that can cover nearly everyone in the entire association. His basketball IQ borders on genius, and he seems to be coming into his own more and more every year. He also does a pretty good job of scoring — despite it mostly coming from within ten feet of the basket.

For us to nitpick and focus on his one flaw is unfair to Simmons. Every player in the league (aside from maybe LeBron James, Kawhi Leonard and pre-injury Kevin Durant) has a weakness. Stephen Curry is a liability on defense, James Harden plays a ball-dominant style that has yet to translate to success in the playoffs, Kyrie Irving is injury-prone, etc. Yet how many of them are defined solely by their weakness?

We’re seeing a beautiful thing develop in Philadelphia with Ben Simmons. If we don’t stop focusing on a current flaw in his game, we might miss what’s happening here.