Philadelphia 76ers legend Charles Barkley says Sixers star Ben Simmons will be one of the best players in NBA history if he adds a jumper.
Simmons has yet to hit a 3-pointer in his NBA career. The talented lefty doesn’t have a mid-range game either.
Charles Barkley wants to see Simmons develop a jump shot so he can be an icon in Philadelphia and lead the Sixers to a championship.
“I’m a big Ben Simmons fan. And I want him to do like Magic Johnson and Michael Jordan. Keep working on his game, become a very good shooter, because if he keeps working on his jump shot, he’s going to be one of the best to ever do it,” Barkley told Michael Lee of The Athletic.
Ben Simmons signed a five-year, $170 million maximum rookie contract extension with the Sixers this summer. Last season, Simmons averaged 16.9 points, 8.8 rebounds and 7.7 assists while shooting 56.3 percent from the field. The 2018 Rookie of the Year recorded 42 double-doubles and 10 triple-doubles.
Simmons is already an elite defender, passer and a nightmare to guard in transition. Many believe the Sixers are the favorite to win the Eastern Conference now that Kawhi Leonard is in the Western Conference. Philly lost Jimmy Butler and JJ Redick, but rebounded nicely by signing Al Horford and acquiring Josh Richardson from the Miami Heat in the sign-and-trade deal for Butler.
For the Sixers to win the title in 2019-20, Simmons will have to have some resemblance of a perimeter game.
Follow Us
Subscribe