Ranking the top 50 NBA players of next season: 20-11

11. Ben Simmons

Far too much is made about Ben Simmons shooting from long range. Ideally, he would be doing more of that, especially on a roster that sees him paired with Joel Embiid. Being miscast as a point guard when he is more likely a power forward causes those complications. But focusing on that takes the eyes away from the things he does well.

Which is to say, basically everything else. Simmons is one of the best defensive players in the league, with the ability to defend all five positions if needed. He led the league in steals last season (2.1) and fifth in the league in defensive rating for players who played at least 35 minutes per game. He made his first All-NBA team (3rd team) and was named First Team All-Defense.

Ben Simmons is also one of the most creative passers in the league and makes his teammates better. He was third among forward in assists at 8.0 per game, trailing only LeBron James and Luka Doncic. The slights against Simmons at this point are clearly just misguided. He falls into elite company and if the team had been correctly structured last season that would have been even clearer.

Luckily this season that looks to be the case and Simmons and Embiid should look even better because of it. It is long past time to state the obvious. Simmons is an elite player who changes a franchise. Expecting him to add a 3-point shot is unreasonable and if it were to happen it may be too much for the league to handle.