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Philadelphia 76ers stud and 2017-18 Rookie of the Year Ben Simmons is focusing on improving one of the major flaws of his game: free-throw shooting.
Ben Simmons doing free throws as #Sixers first training camp practice wraps up. Very deliberately working on keeping his elbow locked. Results are a hit and miss, but addressing that looks to have been a clear focus over the summer.
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) September 22, 2018
Ben Simmons putting up free throws at camp pic.twitter.com/j85Jacf6P2
— Jon Johnson (@jonjohnsonwip) September 22, 2018
While the results have reportedly been inconsistent, the fact that Simmons is putting in the work this past summer has to be good news for the 76ers.
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The 6-foot-10 point forward shot an abysmal 56 percent from the stripe in his rookie campaign. Teams, at times, even used the Hack-a-Simmons technique to get the Sixers out of rhythm and force the rookie to make free throws. He set the record for most free throws attempted in a quarter with 24 after the Washington Wizards used the technique on him in a game in November last season.
Shooting in general has been the major weakness in Simmons' game, and he knows it. Nearly 77 percent of his shots came from within 10 feet. He also did not attempt a single 3-pointer in 81 games, which is unprecedented for someone at his position in this day and age.
The Australian youngster has to improve in this facet if he wants to take his game to the next level. Shooting is arguably the most important skill in the game right now, as teams are heavily reliant on floor spacing and 3-point shooting.
The kid already has crazy athleticism, excellent court vision, and exceptional passing skills. Adding a working shot will only make him even more deadlier than he is right now. If he does this, the league better be put on notice. For now, he's taking the baby steps first in addressing the free-throw shooting.
