Sports on Draft

Ben Simmons certainly looks the part of NBA’s No.1 draft pick, his debut in the 2016 NBA Summer League showcased his blessed attributes of size of 6’10’’, combined with great athletic athleticism. The rare talent is a must-watch; his ability reminisces a 1996’ Orlando Magic Shaquille O’Neal.

Saturday evening was just another night for sports, just another NBA Summer League Game – until Ben Simmons stepped on the court.

All eyes were on Ben Simmons, for his highly anticipated battle with Lakers’ Brandon Ingram, marked the peak of this year’s NBA Summer League. Day 2’s duel was one of the most memorable Summer League matchups since Andrew Wiggins and Jabari Parker’s professional debut back in 2014.

The memorable matchup between NBA’s No. 1 overall pick and No. 2 overall pick on Saturday reiterated why we should pay more attention to the 2016 NBA Summer League.

Simmons’ Day 2 buzz may have been slighted by D’Angelo Russell’s game-winner, as he was the featured “Star of the day” according to Las Vegas Review – Journal, but this year’s No. 1 overall draft pick still put the NBA world in complete awe. Day 2 of the 2016 NBA Summer League broke a single-day session record per Review-Journal, Simmons’ and company had attracted over 16, 208 people in Saturday’s attendance.

While Simmons’s game against Brandon Ingram did not quite result statistically, his physicality, and skill-set was greatly on display. The Sixers’ use of Ben Simmons at the point guard position during the 2016 Summer League highlights why the 6’10” forward is the NBA’s No. 1 prospect, his incredible combination of size and athleticism, reiterates why Philadelphia chose him to be the face of the franchise.

After getting a close-up view of 76ers’ Ben Simmons’ just two days ago, Chicago’s rookie Denzel Valentine, praised the No. 1 overall draft pick. After facing Ben Simmons on Sunday first time as a pro, Chicago’s 14^th overall pick said “He’s like a mini-LeBron.”

Simmons’ will be the most anticipating rookie this 2016-2017 season by far; already displaying his incredible athleticism and size, his high ceiling should give Philadelphia something to look forward to.

If the 6’10’ prodigy can start tapping into his outside range, and learn to be a dual-threat prodigy like Kevin Durant, we could possibly be seeing the next NBA superstar in the making.

Photo by TonyTheTiger (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0], via Wikimedia Commons