For a player as talented as Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons, it is not exactly encouraging when your defining (and most meme-able) characteristic is a faulty jump shot.

While Simmons averaged 16.9 points per game last season, he took just 105 field goal attempts outside of the ten-foot range, with just 25 attempts coming between 16 feet and the three-point line.

Despite his prior hesitance to shoot from the outside, ESPN NBA analyst Jalen Rose believes that the 2019-20 season will be different for Simmons.

On the “Jalen & Jacoby” show, Rose said that he believes Simmons will be more assertive in shooting form the perimeter and refining his game from the outside (via Sporting News):

“For Ben Simmons, I do believe that this is the year that he has the confidence to attempt shots outside of the paint. That's going to unlock their offence and that's going to make them my favourite potentially to come out of the East.”

The Sixers signed Simmons to a five-year, $170 million contract extension earlier this month, so the team is clearly investing on Simmons' progression particularly as a jump shooter. Another interesting dynamic will be how Simmons runs the offense in the absence of Jimmy Butler.

As Butler grew more confident in controlling the offensive tempo in the playoffs, Simmons seemed to disappear at times. He shot over 60 percent from the field in 12 playoff games, but he also averaged under 10 field goal attempts per game. In a four-game stretch against the Raptors, Simmons averaged a mere 8.3 points per game.

If they hope to stake their claim as the best team in the Eastern Conference, Philly needs Simmons to grow more confident in every aspect of his game, and especially with his jump shot.