Great article on Ben Simmons (2015 Basketball commit)

He's a program changing kind of player.

He's really raw and is still incredible. Will just get better and better and better. Especially playing such high level HS competition.

I didn't know he had a step brother in Louisiana. Just thought the whole article was really good. I also like the idea of a big guy having good court awareness because the Australian game is much more creative than American basketball. Makes a really good combo.

quote:

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“The basketball culture is a lot different in Australia,” says Simmons. “It’s more of a team-organized thing, and here it’s a lot of individual play. You have to kind of change your game style. I’m definitely learning I need to be more selfish and take over the game sometimes.”

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This, in and of itself, is why American basketball over the last 20 years has produced some great individual players, but at times a horrible team game. Just watch fast-breaks these days. Rarely does a guy give it up to an open teammate for an easy bucket anymore. Instead, guys on a 3 on 1 break are hellbent to take it to the basket and draw a foul or shoot a contested shot.

Simmons seems to posses a skill-set to make him a Magic Johnson or Lebron James type of all around player. Someone who has size, can score at will, but also has the ability to make everyone else around him better. Hopefully he doesn't become too "Americanized". A little bit of international play isn't a bad thing.

his balance and body control at full stride with the ball in his hands at that age is second to none. kid is the real deal, not raw in any sense. ready to contribute straight away.

just think if there was some way martin and mickey are still here

I don't mean Jarell Martin raw. I meant he's not even close to his full potential. His ceiling is absurd.