This one is sad, but that’s just part of the basketball narrative surrounding the rebuilding Philadelphia 76ers. While they aren’t a total grease fire anymore, Philadelphia is still a bottom-feeder in the Eastern Conference. They still can’t draft players in the lottery that aren’t completely brittle either.
After years of tanking out the wazoo, the 76ers were finally able to appease the ping pong ball gods and landed the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA Draft. With little deliberation, Philadelphia selected LSU Tigers one-and-doner Ben Simmons with that top pick.
Though the kid can’t shoot and seems to be reluctant to, he has the height and on-court vision that reminds basketball fans of Magic Johnson. Simmons tore it up during the Las Vegas Summer League. He was poised to be the 2016-17 NBA Rookie of the Year. Then he got hurt.
Simmons suffered a Jones fracture in his foot during 76ers training camp. As it always is with big dudes and feet, the 76ers sided with precaution to not rush Simmons back. Even in the organization’s efforts to ensure that Simmons’ rehab would go smoothly, it most certainly did not.
Apparently the botched toe didn’t heal properly and he was shutdown for the season. Who is the Philadelphia team doctor: Mantis Toboggan? It is alarming how also-ran these draft picks are when they come into the league. Seriously, do they pick the most injury-prone players consciously? It’s always something with Philadelphia. The biggest reason Simmons would want a mulligan is that he has been largely forgotten not even a year after going No. 1. [bike bell rings]