25-under-25: Ben Simmons doesn’t need a jumper to be great

It’s very hard to talk about Ben Simmons without mentioning his jumper, and while it has to be considered, such focus distracts from how good he already is.

Ben Simmons is like a great hero of mythology, one who made a deal with the devil seeking immortality, but at a great cost — he’s the NBA’s Robert Johnson. His skill in the open court, his vision, his ability to find the open man and create open looks for others feels preternatural, divinely given. It’s like a gift given to a select few that can be refined, sure, but never learned, at least not to this extent. Yet in Simmons’ case, it feels like in this bargain, he lost the ability to shoot.

To say he does not have the ability to shoot is not entirely accurate either. It’s true but does not capture the whole story. Coupled with that inability is a seeming unwillingness to even try, and I can’t tell if that’s a noble decision to focus on one’s strengths and not give in to critics or a cowardly one that preemptively admits failure. But Simmons’ other skills are so outlandish to make his lack of a shot, if not irrelevant, a secondary concern. When you watch him play, you are bound to see him make passes that few other players alive could have made, not just because of the dexterity that they require, but because of the foresight necessary to even notice the soon-to-vanish lane that will appear for one fleeting moment. You see him loping down the court after corralling a rebound and it’s as if he, while moving at full speed, is able to take in everything else swirling around him in slow motion, allowing him to make a pinpoint pass, leading to an easy bucket for the Sixers. It’s a rare skill worth several points every night.

He combines speed, size, and vision in a way only a handful of players in the last four decades have, joining a rare group with Magic and LeBron, and while he lacks the all-around game that made them historically great, to be able to mentioned alongside them for any reason as a 23-year-old entering his third season is a testament to both his abilities and their uniqueness.

Even as a young player who is already an All-Star, it is thrilling to imagine how much better he could still become, regardless of whether or not he ever adds a reliable jump shot to his arsenal. It is not like he is a finished product elsewhere. He can still become more reliable near the basket and find ways to counter the way defenses play off him, but even if he only marginally improves over the next few seasons, he’s still bound to be one of the best and most unique players in the NBA for years to come. After all, Giannis Antetokounmpo just won MVP while taking nearly 70 percent of his shots near the basket and making only 25 percent of his 3s. Antetokounmpo and Simmons are vastly different players, but anyone who acts like learning to shoot is the only way Simmons can improve his game or become an All-NBA player is being disingenuous if not just foolish.

Simmons is one of the best young players in the league. That is inarguable. But what is debatable is just how valuable a player lacking any semblance of a jump shot can be in today’s NBA where shooters are valued more than ever before. There have been moments, especially in the postseason, where Simmons has appeared to be only intermittently useful, easily counteracted by the opposition, which undercuts the idea of him being a star who leaves his imprint on every facet of the game. This season, with the Sixers yet again having gone all-in on winning a championship as soon as possible before the union of Simmons and Joel Embiid can begin to potentially fracture, is more important than a third season for a young player usually is. The learning curve may not be as steep as it is for others, but the stakes are much higher.

It is incumbent on Simmons and the Sixers coaching staff to find ways to accentuate his gifts while making his one undeniable weakness as irrelevant as possible. It will not be easy, especially in a league that prizes spacing, shooting, and offensive versatility as never before, but the Sixers’ success hinges on it. He is not the Sixers’ best player, but he may be their most important, or at least their potential weak link — the one who, despite being among the best shot creators in the world, can be most easily nullified.

Ben Simmons is the most idiosyncratic and the most intriguing young player in the NBA. In a league that is increasingly homogenized, he refuses to adapt to dominant ideas about what makes a franchise centerpiece — though whether this is due to willfulness or inability is unclear. Simmons is already an All-Star caliber player and entering just his third season, it is safe to say he is far from his peak. Whether his development will entail adding new components to his game or just further developing the skills he already has, watching Simmons’ growth will certainly be interesting, and if his first two seasons are any indication, it’ll be very fun and very aesthetically pleasing as well.

The insider’s perspective

by Christopher Kline

Ben Simmons is as talented as he is unique. At 6-foot-10, he fancies himself a point guard but can’t really shoot. When one looks past that glaring flaw, however, it’s easy to appreciate his brilliance as a playmaker, interior scorer and defender. Blessed with size and athleticism, Simmons is one of only a handful of NBA players who can aptly defend five positions. He’s also a killer in the open court, blending the power of a hulking forward with the speed and skill of a guard. As his scoring develops, Simmons has real top-10 potential.

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