Was that Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons that just made a 3-pointer? Or is the Orlando heat causing mirages?
No, it really was Simmons.
The Sixers point-forward drained a catch-and-shoot triple during his team's exhibition matchup with the Memphis Grizzlies on Friday, much to the delight of Joel Embiid and the rest of his teammates:
Ben Simmons nails the catch-and-shoot 3-pointer 🔥👌🏽pic.twitter.com/7IloAWD48O
— ClutchPoints (@ClutchPointsApp) July 24, 2020
Ben Simmons also attempted another 3-pointer earlier in the game, but missed.
Of course, none of this actually means anything until Simmons starts regularly making treys in meaningful games. In three NBA seasons with the Sixers, Simmons has made just a pair of 3-pointers — with both of those makes coming this season.
However, the fact that Simmons appears to be making an attempt to expand his offensive repertoire and help provide Philadelphia with some much-needed floor spacing is great to see.
Prior to the 2019-20 campaign being suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic back in March, Simmons played in 54 games and was averaging 16.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 8.2 assists and 2.1 steals over 35.7 minutes per game. He was also shooting 58.5 percent from the floor and 62.7 percent from the free-throw line for the Sixers.
The shutdown has actually benefited Simmons, as he appeared on track to miss extensive time due to a back injury. However, the 24-year-old seems fully healed and may have even added a new wrinkle to his game during the hiatus.
Simmons, who played his collegiate basketball at LSU, was originally selected by the Sixers with the first overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft. Due to a foot injury, he missed the entire 2016-17 season.
The Australian made his debut in 2017-18 and had since made two All-Star appearances.
Follow Us
Subscribe