Basketball experts reveal why Australian NBA star Ben Simmons is so good
THERE’S not much that hasn’t been said about Aussie Ben Simmons, but his sublime skills have even the best basketball minds marvelling at his potential. What is it that has some believing he can usurp The King, LeBron James?
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AUSSIE Ben Simmons has taken the NBA by storm.
The Melbourne-born star has made the Philadelphia 76ers relevant again and he’s taken Australian basketball to another level.
But why is 21-year-old so good and what might his ceiling be?
They are simple questions, with a variety of complex answers.
We asked a number of Australian and international basketball luminaries about what sets Simmons apart.
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THE SCOUT
TONY Ronzone has been “everywhere, man”.
The Dallas Mavericks director of player personnel is a veteran of the international scouting scene, helping to build an NBA championship roster in Detroit and uncovering talents such as legendary German Dirk Nowitzki.
He said Simmons was always special, but he has something intangible that puts him on another level — and he credits his upbringing.
“Watching him in college, he just had a special skill that you couldn’t teach and it was unselfishness to pass the ball,” Ronzone said.
“Almost to a fault — he’s so unselfish. He’s looking to score a little more, but to me, it’s all a product of Australian culture, of really caring about your mates.
“When you interview them, the Aussies are really good at giving credit to their teammates, giving credit to their coach. I see that a lot and I think it’s just part of your culture.
“More concerned about your teammates and your country than yourself, and I think that’s such a positive for a guy like Ben Simmons.”
Of course, Ronzone said the youngster’s talent level is “off the charts”.
“The sky’s the limit for him,” he said.
“He’s a point guard at 6ft 10in (210cm), is he going to be compared to the greats of all time? The top 50? The way he’s going, he’s on that route.
“It’s going to take time and years because in our league it’s more about what can you do to win championships.
“(Chicago Bulls legend) Michael Jordan won six, (Los Angeles Lakers star) Kobe (Bryant) won five, (Cleveland superstar) Lebron’s (James) at three right now — your greatness is measured by how many championships you can bring to the table.”
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THE LEGEND
NBL champion and Boomers legend Andrew Gaze played alongside Ben Simmons’ father Dave during the NBL’s halcyon days.
“I always knew he (Ben) was destined for good things, but never did I envisage it would be to this level,” Gaze said.
“Right now he’s playing at a level where he’s regarded in the same sort of sentences as someone like LeBron James and that’s quite extraordinary.”
Gaze built his storied career on basketball smarts, so when he says Simmons’ understanding of the game is among the best he has seen, you listen.
“It’s his basketball IQ. He sees the floor really well, he plays one pass ahead of the game and you combine that with incredible athleticism and size,” Gaze said.
“You can learn it (basketball IQ) and clearly experience plays a big part of that, but it’s like athleticism — you can be born with those types of instincts that others don’t seem to have and don’t seem to develop.
“For him it’s his ability to see the game, to read the game to make other players better and that is by creating off the bounce and getting them the ball in positions where the shots become a lot easier for them. His instinct and nose for the ball around the basket on the glass, the way in which he can read a defence and create for himself and others.
“All those things equate to basketball IQ, but it’s also understanding the context of the game — when you need to do it yourself, when you need to get it through some system to get it to someone — all those things are part of the judgements that players make and the good ones seem to have an instinct to know the right call at the right time.”
Gaze said Simmons is still figuring out which hand to use when he shoots, but believed he can be in the same league as James, when it’s all said and done.
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“His touch around the basket with both his left and right hand — when he was coming up in the junior ranks he was extremely left-handed, but as he’s matured and developed his game, it’s almost like he’s ambidextrous down there with his touch with both his left and right hand,” he says.
“I think, as he evolves and gets more comfortable and starts to extend his shooting range, it’s going to be almost impossible to guard him.
“His skillsets don’t fall out of trees, they’re something that’s very, very rare to have that size and athleticism and basketball IQ — there’s no reason to think that in a few years time that (he can) be that elite guy in the entire NBA.”
THE MARKSMAN
FORMER Minnesota Timberwolf Shane Heal pulls no punches.
“He’s a freak, mate,” Heal said when asked about Simmons.
“What he’s doing now is unprecedented, not just for Australian basketball, but in the NBA.
“The results have surprised a lot of Americans and he’s proven that, right now, he’s by far the best-performed Australian that’s ever played in the NBA.”
Simmons missed his entire rookie season through a foot injury, but Heal said that was a blessing in disguise.
“I think the year he had off ... he was able to see it (the NBA) first hand, start to understand the level of competition, what his teammates and the opposition are about and scouting and getting stronger and getting ready and he’s just come in so much more poised than anyone could have ever imagined.”
Heal said Simmons has the potential to become “the best player in the world”.
“That’s a massive tag to have to carry around, but an exciting one for Aussie basketball,” he said.
“Long term, you only start thinking about when his body really matures and he becomes a man — he’s going to be scary in five year’s time. That’s what I’m excited about.”
THE WATCHER
FORMER NBL MVP Corey Williams says Simmons’ family background is at the root of his talent.
Simmons’ father Dave made his name with the Melbourne Tigers as one of the toughest players in the NBL, playing in 338 games.
“He comes from great basketball DNA. Let’s not forget, Pops was a stud when he played,” Williams said.
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“His body, his knowledge of the game, his nose for the game — he fits perfectly into the scheme of things with that team, Brett Brown is a great coach, giving him the keys to the cart, allowing him to be who he is.”
Williams said Simmons is a “superstar-level” version of former Los Angeles Lakers dual-championship point forward Lamar Odom.
Odom, before a highly publicised fall from grace, was one of the most versatile players in the league and a pioneer of the point forward role.
“He’s a selfless player — he’s a Lamar Odom 2.0, but on a superstar level,” Williams says.
“That’s how I see Ben Simmons, but he’s not American, he’s Aussie, so that s*** gets magnified — he will have an impact in this country, almost like Jordan-esque
“You got to remember, Aussies back Aussies, they support each other. They’re going to support him and this thing is going to a whole ‘nother level.”
Williams said Simmons’ mateship with LeBron James — they share the same agency, Klutch Sports, and train together — will set him on the path to greatness.
“He’s aligned with the King,” Williams says.
“You’ve got Jordan, you’ve got Kobe, then you’ve got the King.
“If you’re aligned with the King, your decisions are going to be royalty-like.
“The kid is grounded and focused. He’s an intelligent young man with a strong backing.
“All he has to do is continue to stay focused and stay healthy and he’ll take Australian basketball to new heights that we’ve never seen.
“He can’t lose.”
THE BOOMER
MELBOURNE United big man David Andersen has won 10 basketball titles all over the world, played with Simmons in the national team and spent time with him in camp.
He said Simmons’ versatility at both ends of the floor has turned him into an immediate NBA threat.
“He’s matured into a great player, he’s worked his way into the right system, he gets the ball in his hands and he makes smart decisions with the ball,” Andersen said.
“He’s so tall and athletic he can play multiple positions — he can defend a lot of guys and on the other side he can attack anyone.”
Andersen says he knew to stay out of Simmons way on the court, even when he was a teenager.
“We played a game together against New Zealand in 2014,” he said.
“He was in high school then, so they were trying to get him around the program.
“He was a bit observant, a bit shy — it’s hard when you’re around a senior team to blend in.
“But he had a lot of talent, he was working hard, he was a good guy.
“It was pretty fun to watch him, even in training sessions.
“He was long and lanky, he had some hops to him, so he put down some nice dunks and caught you off guard once in a while.
“I don’t think he ever actually dunked on me, but he caught a few guys
“You could definitely see his potential and what he’s done speaks for itself.”
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