5 reasons Ben Simmons shouldn’t be the NBA Draft’s first pick

2. He can’t shoot

I’m not sure if you’ve noticed, but shooting is a pretty valuable skill in the NBA these days. In an era defined by the phrase “pace and space” Simmons is a player that doesn’t remotely fit that ideal.

Simmons is such a weak perimeter shooter that he only attempted three three-pointers all season for LSU.  That’s a shockingly low number for a player who handled the ball so much for his team on the perimeter.

That low attempt total tells you a lot about Simmons’ game. His shot is so broken he didn’t even bother to attempt it during most games. Even though opposing defenses slumped off him and dared him to shoot, he still wouldn’t pull the trigger. That’s a huge red flag for the team that drafts him.

The team that selects Simmons will have to completely reconstruct his jumper from both a physical and mental standpoint. That means they’ll need to have a shooting coach and a psychiatrist on call from the minute they make the pick.

Ultimately it’s a huge question whether or not Simmons can score enough to thrive in today’s NBA. He put up a decent scoring total at LSU, but it came almost exclusively around the basket. He will have to diversify his offensive game and develop a reliable jump shot to be a threat at the next level.

Next: 1. He isn't an alpha dog