Yet here’s Ben Simmons as a rookie power forward in one of this first Summer League games doing that type of thing and making it look easy. As Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer reported earlier today, Simmons was not yet in Utah when the Sixers began practicing in preparation for the summer league earlier this afternoon.
Advertisement
Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons exited his pro debut against the Boston Celtics with cramping in both of his calves Monday.
Before then, Simmons hadn’t played in a five-on-five setting since March 12th, when he posted 10 points and 12 rebounds in a loss to Texas A&M that eliminated Louisiana State from the Southeastern Conference Tournament.
It’s been nearly two weeks since general manager Bryan Colangelo tabbed Ben Simmons and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot with the No. 1 and No. 24 picks, respectively.
There may have been some “character” concerns about Simmons coming into the National Basketball Association, but there’s no arguing his talent-especially when you see plays like this. Luwawu-Cabarrot represented France in the 2015 U-20 European Championship where he averaged 12 points, five rebounds and two steals in 28 minutes per game.
Summer League teams are made up of recently acquired draft picks, second-year players and desperate young free agents hoping to score a contract, just as undrafted Australian guard Matthew Dellavedova did three years ago with the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Since Simmons has been likened to, among other basketball players of some renown, Magic Johnson and LeBron James, the Sixers found themselves in the position to request caution.
Advertisement
Ingram, a brilliant passer and an outstanding three-point shooter with keen court awareness has scored 17.3 points a game for Duke with 6.8 rebounds on average.
