NBA draft: Ben Simmons declares he’s ready for No. 1 draft pick pressure
MELBOURNE’S Ben Simmons has declared he is ready and willing to stand up to the pressure and expectations of being the NBA No. 1 draft pick.
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MELBOURNE’S Ben Simmons has declared he is ready and willing to stand up to the pressure and expectations of being the No. 1 draft pick in the world’s most famous basketball league regardless of where it lands him.
The 2.08m tall former Box Hill Senior Secondary College student is expected to be flung into a massive global spotlight tomorrow by being the first player selected in the NBA Draft in Brooklyn.
Fans from more than 215 countries and territories will tune in for the Draft, screened live as prime time viewing in the US, as a new generation of sporting millionaires in born.
But Simmons said he could hardly wait to turn pro and embrace the fame and fortune that comes with playing the game he loves.
“I’ve put in a lot of hours, a lot of years just to get here so I know I’m ready,’’ he said.
Simmons, 19, will pocket a first year salary of more than $6.6 million (AUS) and be billed a franchise player if, as expected, he is taken with the first selection by the Philadelphia 76ers in tomorrow morning’s Draft.
Before even slipping on an NBA uniform he this week appeared on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, shot a Footlocker commercial and spoke of his close bond with “big bro’’ basketball superstar LeBron James.
He confirmed he has just signed a deal with Nike — reportedly worth a cool $26 million AU.
And, as the sporting world turns its eyes on the son of former Melbourne Tigers star Dave Simmons, even the tremendously talented teenager admits he would be surprised if he was not taken no. 1.
“Obviously I do want to be the number one pick ... I want to be the best player,’’ he said.
“There is only one No. 1 pick every year.
“That’s been my goal ever since I was about five honestly.’’
Victoria will also be thrust into the spotlight if Simmons is the top pick, making him the third Melbourne-born player to be selected No. 1 in the past 11 seasons, following Andrew Bogut in 2005 and recently crowned NBA champion Kyrie Irving in 2011.
He said the fact Australian players had been involved in the past four NBA Finals’ series was also proof there was a new golden era of hoops brewing down under.
“It’s one of those things in Australia where everyone just works hard,’’ he said.
“Just ‘have a crack at it’.
“I hear that a lot and I love doing it.’’
Simmons, who before primary school scribbled his NBA dream on a piece of paper at his Melbourne home, said he knew life was to drastically change for him.
But he was ready for the fame, fortune and pressure to succeed.
“I’ve been working hard just to get to here so I’m really looking forward to this,’’ he said.
“It will be a big relief.
“I’ve finally gotten to this point but now I’m a small fish in a big pond.’’
He said his to do list for Draft night was simple.
“Hopefully I don’t fall on the stage,’’ he said.
“That’s the most important thing.’’
And he said he would not follow his good friend, Melbourne’s Utah Jazz guard Dante Exum, who sewed a map of Australia and the name of his home town into his suit jacket when he was drafted two years ago.
“I’m going to keep in simple, classy,’’ he said.
“You’ll see. It will look good.’’
Twitter: @rolfep
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