Los Angeles Lakers Hall of Famer Magic Johnson is among the train of believers in a young Ben Simmons, who has put in the work to improve his jump shot this offseason. Simmons was seen taking (and making) several jumpers during open runs throughout the summer, though there are many skeptics that have argued that his exploits in a non-competitive controller environment would differ to the pressure-cooker that an NBA game presents.
Johnson, needless to say, isn't among those skeptics, claiming Simmons is going to “shock everybody” with his improved jumper.
“It's not really working on your game, for him it's attitude,” said Magic Johnson. “When you're 6-foot-9, you gotta say ‘nobody can stop me.' Yes he's got to get a jump shot and he will, and I think he worked hard this summer already. I think he's gonna come back and shock everybody.”
As Magic said on ESPN's First Take, Simmons' main issue isn't that he's not making jump shots, but the fact that he has not been taking them to begin with. If he doesn't take a shot, he doesn't make one — and not making shots will render the potential to develop a comfortable shooting rhythm impossible for a player that has yet to scrape his own ceiling.
Ben Simmons must first build the confidence to take several jump shots through the course of a game before he can “shock” everybody with his jumper. If he musters the courage to miss, he's already on the right track to finding his stroke.
Follow Us
Subscribe
