Ben Simmons shows off new skills ahead of NBA season restart

Ben Simmons did something he’s never tried before in the NBA as Philadelphia warmed up with a win over Memphis in Orlando.

Ben Simmons showed off his willingness to shoot.

Joel Embiid gave Ben Simmons a standing ovation after he drained a three-pointer during Philadelphia’s 90-83 win in a scrimmage against Memphis.

Sixers coach Brett Brown voiced his frustration yesterday over constant questions about the Australian’s ability to do damage from beyond the arc and the 24-year-old proved he’s been working on his deficiency during lockdown.

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Tobias Harris fired a pass to Simmons in the third quarter and he nailed the corner three to show people he’s capable of hurting teams from outside the paint too. That successful attempt came after an earlier long range effort that missed, making it the first time in his professional career Simmons has launched two three-point attempts in one game.

After his first three-point attempt, one of the commentators did a double take to make sure his eyes weren’t deceiving him.

“Was that a three from Ben Simmons?” the caller said.

Maybe he’s more comfortable shooting in an empty arena as the NBA prepares to restart officially at the end of the month in its Disney World “bubble”, but Simmons is hoping the league takes steps to provide an atmosphere during games even if fans aren’t allowed to attend.

“They better put some boos in there for us because if we are not playing hard we want to hear those boos,” Simmons said.

RELATED: Coach fed up with constant Simmons questions

The 2nd Ben Simmons corner three attempt of the game goes in. He's a new man.

— Kyle Neubeck (@KyleNeubeck) July 24, 2020

all it took was a global pandemic for ben simmons to attempt 3s in a game

— Jasmyn Wimbish (@JasmynWimbish) July 24, 2020

Ben Simmons hit a 3, the bubble is working

— Lang Whitaker (@langwhitaker) July 24, 2020

Ben Simmons is really out here taking and making 3s. Jeepers

— Kevin O'Connor (@KevinOConnorNBA) July 24, 2020

If Ben Simmons is actually going to start just casually shooting 3s and making some of them it’s going to be a Happy Gilmore-Learned-How-To-Putt level game changer.

— Ross Maghielse (@Maghielse) July 24, 2020

Post-game Simmons said he feels “comfortable” shooting from the corners while Brown was happy his player “didn’t flinch” when presented with the opportunity from downtown.

Simmons has been shooting plenty of threes in practice and his coach was pleased he took that same mindset into today’s scrimmage against the Grizzlies.

During the week Brown said: “I feel like his spirit, his mindset coming down here … to willingly find space and find threes, that has been a paradigm shift, an attitudinal change.

“I have seen a player that is cocky and playing, and when the game says you should shoot because nobody is on you, he does. And he doesn’t blink, and his teammates love it, and so does his head coach.”

Used to playing as a point guard, Simmons thrived after being switched to power forward as the 76ers contemplate altering their line-up in their chase for a championship.