It's a well-known fact that Sixers point guard Ben Simmons struggles with accuracy from range, and his latest feat serves as proof.
According to NBA analyst Tommy Beer, Simmons is now one of four players in this millennium who have dished out 1,000 assists without making a single 3-pointer. All three of the others on this list are centers (Shaquille O'Neal, Zaza Pachulia and Joakim Noah), which is wild:
Only four NBA players this millennium have dished out over 1,000 assists without making a single 3-pointer:
Shaquille O'Neal, Zaza Pachulia, Joakim Noah …. and ….
Ben Simmons— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) April 19, 2019
But wait, there's more:
Per @bball_ref:
In the 40 years since the NBA introduced the 3-point line, Ben Simmons is the only guard with more than 1,000 assists and fewer than one made 3-pointer.
Just an astonishingly unique player – especially in today's 3PT-happy NBA.
— Tommy Beer (@TommyBeer) April 19, 2019
Though he struggles from beyond the arc, Simmons still usually finds a way to make his mark on games. That was certainly the case in Thursday's Game 3 matchup against the Brooklyn Nets. Simmons continually attacked the rim, notching a new playoff-high 31 points on 11-of-13 shooting from the field, nine assists, four rebounds, three blocks and two steals.
Sloppy jumper or not, Simmons feels the Sixers have what it takes to win:
“We have the pieces to get games, to complete games and I think everybody in the organization knows that,” Simmons told ESPN after Thursday's 131-115 victory.
Through his first three games of this playoff series, Simmmons has turned in averages of 19.3 points on 67.6 percent shooting from the field, 8.0 assists, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 blocks and 1.7 steals in 33.3 minutes per outing.
Simmons and the Sixers will be back in action on Saturday afternoon, when they'll travel to Brooklyn for Game 4. Tip-off inside the Barclays Center is set for 3:00 p.m. ET, with TNT having love broadcast coverage.
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