Congratulations Ben Simmons, you are the number one NBA draft pick.
Not only has Simmons done himself proud, but most sports-mad Australians were on the edge of their seats as NBA Commissioner Adam Silver sauntered up to the microphone to announce his name.
» Catch every minute of Simmons’ debut season with our Ben Simmons NBA fixtures page
» Learn how you can watch every NBA game this season with our Australian NBA live streaming and TV guide
Simmons now not only joins the elite ranks of a number one draft choice, but he joins a team with great historical significance to the league – the Philadelphia 76ers.
This is a team that has seen some of the all time greats grace its court and wear its jersey. Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson, Wilt Chamberlain and the iconic Julius ‘the Doctor’ Irving.
It’s also in one of the most sports-crazed cities in America. Philly has long been known for having some of the most ravenous sports fans in the country.
But for all the history, Ben will enter the team in an era where the 76ers are in a bad way.
For quite a few years now the 76ers have been bad, woefully bad – historically terrible.
Last season, they captured a minuscule ten wins from 82 games, finishing stone cold dead last in the Eastern Conference.
In the two seasons before, they only managed eighteen and nineteen wins.
For those interested in the math, that gives them a 5.23 per cent winning percentage over the past three seasons.
He also joins an undoubtedly young team brimming with talent, but the problem is all the talent is in the big man slot.
Along with Simmons, who coach Brett Brown has said will play the power forward role, the 76ers have three top ten draft picks in Nerlens Noel (sixth in 2013), Joel Embiid (third in 2014) and Jahlil Okafor (third in 2015), all of whom play in the four or five role.
Now, there’s already talk of some of these pieces being moved on to better accommodate Simmons and get the parts needed to rebuild the teams ailing backcourt.
But Ben has something none of those guys have, the title of ‘number one draft pick’.
Having watched Ben’s brief college career at LSU, it is unquestionable he has all the ability to play any of the five positions on the court.
His average of 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists in college is indicative of his multi dimensional presence.
While coach Brown has said it’s unlikely to see Simmons play point guard in his debut year, the 6’10 Aussie could easily move out to small forward.
As many have said already, Ben is the most NBA ready player in this draft. His speed, passing ability and physical presence mean he can easily slot into any role required.
And not only that, he will be playing in a city desperate for good NBA news. Philly hasn’t tasted an NBA title since 1983.
This is a town that considers themselves among the American sporting elite, who still to this day encompass themselves in the Rocky underdog mantra.
Can Ben be the one to revive the 76ers back to their historical heights, only time will tell.
But I’ll say this, out of all the top draft picks who have walked into that locker room in recent years, he already has given the city of Philadelphia more hope than any other.
Build your own ultimate team! Pick your key players and take a shot at big cash prizes every day with Draftstars. For great odds on NBA games every day head on over to PlayUp. Imagine what you could be buying instead. Set a deposit limit.
Nikola Jokic has scored 32 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead defending NBA champions Denver past LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers…
There will undoubtedly be upset results here and there in the NBA playoffs but there’s an overwhelming sense of fait accompli that Boston will…
LeBron James is going back to the Olympics for the first time in 12 years. Steph Curry is headed to the games for the…
The only realistic threat to Boston’s chances of strolling through the Eastern Conference is a team that could still end up in the play-in…
Australian guards Dante Exum and Josh Giddey have both come up big for their NBA clubs in crucial wins in the lead-in to the…
Minnesota Timberwolves fans have endured plenty of pain in their 35 years of being a laughing stock in the NBA. In all that time,…
