By: Alex Sommerfield Ben Simmons was supposed to win Rookie of the year this season. He is going to win in next year, mark my words, and he will eventually win an MVP award. But all that was put on hold when Simmons injured his foot during training camp, resulting in him missing the entire season. Now if the Philadelphia 76ers were in the playoff hunt Simmons would have come back and played this year. But the 76ers fell out of playoff contention after Joel Embiid got hurt again, which enabled the tanking to again commence for the Sixers. A far different first season in the league than LeBron James had. During LeBron’s rookie season in 2003-2004 he played in 79 games averaging 20.9 points, 5.5 boards, 5.9 assists, and 1.6 steals a game. Simmons averaged 15 claps, 25 high fives, one sport coat, and one cat raising a game his rookie season. LeBron’s rookie season was the one year he was not an All-Star. Simmons was also not an All-Star this rookie season. That is the only thing they have in common so far during their NBA careers besides the fact that they were both selected with the 1st pick in their respective drafts. But Simmons still has the potential of a volcano. Simmons has shown that he has the ability to take over games like LeBron can do. Simmons can handle the ball just as well as James can, in fact the Sixers plan to have Simmons be the starting point guard when he returns to action. Ben Simmons is a point guard, a 6-10, rumored to be closer to 7 foot, point guard. LeBron is a point guard, although he is every other position as well. LeBron can not only play all five positions but but guard all five positions. Something that Simmons has not quite shown yet. He does have the speed and agility to do so though. Simmons’ strength is a work in progress not to say that he’s a skinny as some of the rookies coming in to the league but he can always grow in the area. Simmons was big physically in high school and college now he’s just above average height in the NBA. The question about Simmons has always been his scoring outside of layups and dunks. That is something that Simmons didn’t need to develop in the lower ranks because he could just out physical everybody, but if he wants to be an elite PG in this game he cannot be a shooting liability. A Ben Simmons shot chart from college peaks right around the rim and lessens as you go further out. He only attempted three shots from beyond the arc in college. We’ve seen LeBron slowly improve his three-point percentage each year since he’s been in the league, he also attempts about two more three pointers now compared to his first season. LeBron has improved his shooting percentage every year as well, this season he was about 15% better from the field compared to his rookie season. These two come from completely different backgrounds, but they’ve grown in to a similar type of player. Taller and stronger than most who can over power any game. Simmons might still need to learn how to do that but he definitely has the potential to do so. Both can dominate with their size and skill, along with that their ability to make plays for others and distribute the ball willingly make these two comparable. If Simmons can develop an outside shot, he could actually be the next LeBron James. Until then it looks like he’s going to be a pass first super tall point guard that can be over powering for opponents at times.
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