Aussies in NBA: Ben Simmons is coming for that 2018 Rookie of the Year
Ben Simmons was forced to sit out the entire 2016/17 NBA season due to a broken foot.
Some may have forgotten just how supreme of an athlete he is. After all the hype surrounding the newest crop of NBA rookies, drafted just days ago, with one simple Instagram video Simmons put the 2017 draftees on notice.
A post shared by Ben Simmons (@bensimmons) on Jun 24, 2017 at 9:15pm PDT
Simmons is a legitimate threat to be crowned 2018 Rookie of the Year - yes he will be eligible this coming season. His size and ability to play multiple positions is exactly what the prototypical NBA player has become.
Simmons' height, combined with his vision and playmaking skills are unmatched by any of the incoming crop of rookies. The 2016 NBA Summer League allowed Simmons to show off those skills against fellow NBA young guns - and it was ridiculously fun to watch.
The Sixers announced earlier this month that Simmons will not participate in the 2017 NBA Summer League. Whilst that means we will miss out on some highlights in July, it does allow him to continue to work on his game and health behind closed doors.
It also re-affirms just how cautious the Sixers have been, and will continue to be, with the 6'10" Aussie.
The hype around the Sixers is extremely real. After years of tanking rebuilding, #TheProcess has blessed Philly with Joel Embiid, Dario Saric, Simmons and now this years #1 pick, Markelle Fultz. Aussie Jonah Bolden, taken with pick 36, will also feature heavily in the coming seasons.
Philly is going to be a must-watch team, and Simmons is a huge part of that appeal.