Philadelphia 76ers’ Joel Embiid, center right, celebrates with Ben Simmons, center left, after he shot a 3-pointer to end the second quarter as Guangzhou Loong-Lions’ CJ Harris, right, looks on during the first half of an NBA exhibition basketball game Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2019, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke)
PHILADELPHIA — The crowd screamed for Ben Simmons to shoot as he dribbled near the perimeter in a preseason game against a team from China. Joel Embiid motioned for him to let it fly. Simmons took a couple more steps, stopped and popped.
Swish.
Fans celebrated Simmons’ first career 3-pointer as if the Philadelphia 76ers had just won Game 7 of the NBA Finals. Embiid ran over and hugged him, teammates rushed the court and the internet went wild.
It’s been nearly impossible to mention Simmons without adding jump shot in the conversation since his debut in October 2017. The 23-year-old Simmons is considered one of the best players in the world despite his reluctance to shoot jumpers in his first two seasons.
The All-Star point guard told The Associated Press last month that he allowed criticism to bother him, but he “fell in love with the game again” over the summer during the countless hours he spent in the gym working on his shot.
Simmons realizes adding a jumper would make him a complete player.
“It’s a huge part of the game, so if it’s open I’ll take it,” he said. “I think I was just too worried about what people were saying, what was going on around, too many outside noises, and I was able to block them out this summer and not really focus on what people say. I don’t really care anymore unless it’s coming from someone in my circle or someone who is trying to help me get better.”
Simmons is 0 for 18 from 3-point range in his career, including playoffs, so making one even in a preseason game was a big deal for everyone — except him and his coach.
“I think the whole thing is so overblown,” Brett Brown said. “I think in general, it’s so inflated the attention.”
Simmons sat out his first season with a broken right foot after the process-trusting Sixers selected him No. 1 overall in the 2016 draft. He earned Rookie of the Year honors the following year and became an All-Star for the first time last season. He has helped lead the Sixers to the second round of the NBA playoffs twice, and has averaged 16.4 points, 8.5 rebounds and 7.9 assists.
Questions about his ability to shoot sometimes overshadow everything he does well.
“I’m confident in saying I’m not a great shooter,” he said. “I’m getting better, though. It’s a game. There are five people on the court. I lack something that I’m not great at it but there’s other areas I’m very great at it. I run the floor as well as anybody. I’m physical. I can rebound the ball. At 6-foot-10, I’m a point guard, I can guard one through five, but (shooting is) just one thing that’s coming into my game which I’m excited about. I love getting better. I love spending time in the gym and building that confidence.”
Simmons worked with trainer Chris Johnson in Los Angeles during the summer, and videos showing him shooting teased fans for months.
“I believe if you continue to work, good things will happen over time, and that’s what I will continue to do to keep playing the game I love at a high level,” he said.
Simmons is quiet and reserved, a bit uncomfortable around media, but he’s vocal about speaking out against racism. He is the executive producer of a documentary about Adam Goodes, an Australian football player and anti-racism advocate. It opens Saturday at the Philadelphia Film Festival.
“Everyone has a voice and everyone has different levels of (a platform) and, together as one, people can create change around the world,” he said.
Simmons is also passionate about helping children in the community. He delivered new sports equipment to students in Camden, New Jersey last month and showed up at an elementary school in Philadelphia earlier this week to donate more than 600 new winter coats.
“Growing up, my parents told me I have a huge responsibility with what I do and if I have a chance to help kids, I love to do that,” he said.
On Wednesday, Simmons became the face of smartwater, joining the brand whose goal is to encourage proper hydration.
“They continue to build themselves up and get better and that’s how I see myself as a player,” he said. “I want to continue to get better.”
Simmons, Embiid, Tobias Harris and new additions Al Horford and Josh Richardson give Philadelphia its best starting lineup since Hall of Famers Julius Erving, Moses Malone, Maurice Cheeks and Bobby Jones led the 76ers to their last NBA title in 1983. Jones came off the bench for that team while Andrew Toney and Marc Iavaroni rounded out the starting five.
Simmons says his only goal is to win a championship. He’s also focused on being an excellent defender.
“I want to be the best defensive player on the team,” he said at the team’s media day. “So hopefully everyone on my team hears that, and they strive to do the same thing.”