Philadelphia 76ers point-forward Ben Simmons received the biggest compliment of his career from none other than the Allen Iverson — one of the best to ever put on a Sixers uniform.
Speaking to NBC Sports Philadelphia’s Marc Zumoff, “The Answer” said he understands the burden of expectations on Simmons' shoulders and respects the way he handles the pressure of playing in Philly.
“I think of myself coming into being a rookie with a lot of expectations,” the Sixers legend said, “so that’s what makes me so much of a big fan of him because I know what’s expected of him and I know what city he plays in. It could be good or bad. If you don’t understand that they’re the most passionate and the best fans in the world, and they want to see you do well, but they can be tough on you at times because they want a winner.”
Ben Simmons has received mixed reviews from fans and pundits alike in his young NBA career. While the 6-foot-10 playmaker is lauded for his amazing court vision and athleticism, he has also been lambasted for his inability to make jumpers on a consistent basis.
Allen Iverson claimed that he believes in Simmons' talent and will always root for him to achieve more.
“And it’s a lot to go into. A young person being put in a position to help a team win and it’s all on you. Not on the guys that’s there before you and older, it’s going to be all on you because of the talent. With the talent that God gave you, it’s supposed to be those type of larger expectations and I think he's built for it. He's proven he's built for it. You can’t make any excuses because we already seen that he's built for everything that the NBA has to offer. I'm just a big fan of him. I love cheering for him, just like the rest of the guys,” he added.
The Hall of Famer certainly knows a great talent when he sees one. It's nice to see him give the stamp of approval on the Sixers' current star.
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