Philadelphia 76ers guard Ben Simmons has quickly become one of the most-recognizable faces in the NBA. The 6'10” Australian national possesses an impressive array of skills, including a crafty handle, excellent court vision, and a relentless motor.
However, one aspect of Simmons' game that often comes under fire from critics is his jump-shot. His head coach, Brett Brown, isn't trying to hear that. In fact, Brown says Simmons will not be defined by his jump-shot alone.
#Sixers Brett Brown on Ben Simmons’ jumper: ‘I think the man hours he has put in is impressive.’ Says he’s more confident in shot. ‘His jump shot is not going to define him.’
— Tom Moore (@TomMoorePhilly) September 18, 2018
Simmons, now 22 years of age, made 81 appearances with the Sixers as a rookie last season, racking up averages of 15.8 points on 54.5 percent shooting from the field, 8.2 assists, 8.1 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and just under one block (0.9) in 33.7 minutes per outing. Impressive stats, to be sure, but note that there is no three-point percentage listed. Simmons took 11 shots from beyond the arc (12 counting the playoffs) — all missed. To be fair, though, most of his three-point attempts came from the half-court line and beyond as desperation heaves.
Despite his struggles from the three-point line last season, Simmons was named the NBA's Rookie of the Year. Furthermore, he earned Eastern Conference rookie-of-the-month honors for the months of October/November, January, February, and March/April.
According to several reports, Simmons has been working on his shot in the offseason. In fact, he was recently seen in a gym with his brother, Liam, who formerly served as an assistant coach at the University of California, Riverside.
Ben Simmons racked up 12 double-doubles last season — the second-most by any rookie in NBA history (Oscar Robertson had a whopping 26). If his shot from outside improves, the rest of the league could have their hands full.
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