
It’s always exciting for basketball fans to watch young players go toe-to-toe with – and sometimes even outshine – the veterans on the NBA court. Unfortunately, quite a few promising young talents fade away before hitting their prime, unable to maintain the impressive performance levels they showed early in their careers. That’s exactly what seems to be happening with Ben Simmons, the Australian NBA player who was once dubbed the next LeBron because of his similar all-around skill set.
The Brooklyn Nets’ Big Three Falls Apart
When the 2022-2023 NBA season kicked off, many analysts predicted that the Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons would lead the Brooklyn Nets to championship contention. However, two months ago, both Irving and Durant were traded away, leaving Simmons alone in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, Simmons’ performance has dropped dramatically compared to his days with the Philadelphia 76ers. He’s no longer considered a star player – instead, he’s become nothing more than a permanent bench warmer.
Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn announced about three weeks ago that he would make major roster changes following Irving’s departure to the Dallas Mavericks and Durant’s move to the Phoenix Suns. While he didn’t explicitly state that Simmons would be sidelined, Spencer Dinwiddie, who had been playing well in Dallas, was set to become the primary point guard replacing Irving. Seth Curry was named the backup point guard, leaving Cam Thomas and Ben Simmons to compete for the third-string point guard position.
Though Thomas and Simmons have been alternating playing time with the Nets, Simmons has only appeared in five games, averaging a mere 3 points per game. For context, Simmons is making $35 million this season (approximately 548 billion rupiah), matching the salary of star players like Pascal Siakam and Kyrie Irving. His salary is even higher than that of Joel Embiid, Simmons’ former teammate on the Sixers and a starter in this year’s All-Star game. Currently, Simmons has been removed from the Nets’ rotation and is dealing with a back injury, though there’s speculation about whether the injury is genuine or not.

Ben Simmons’ main issue has always been his fear of shooting the ball. Social media is filled with videos showing Simmons passing up open shots, even when he has clear shooting opportunities. These days, he even seems hesitant to attempt basic layups. Beyond his shooting struggles, Simmons also faces mental hurdles that affect his on-court performance, displaying stubbornness and resistance to development. Back in 2019, NBA legend Kobe Bryant predicted that Simmons’ career would crumble if he didn’t develop a jump shot. Bryant acknowledged Simmons’ potential but warned that he would regret not developing his shooting ability later in his career.
Ben Simmons’ Early Career
Let’s dive into Ben Simmons’ backstory. Born in Australia on July 20, 1996, Simmons came from a basketball family, with his father being a former star in the NBL, Australia’s professional basketball league. Simmons grew into an extraordinary player, standing an unusual 6’10” for a point guard. While he possessed incredible abilities - an athletic body, remarkable agility, exceptional passing skills, playmaking prowess, and defensive talent - he still struggled with shooting.
During his time at Montverde High School, Simmons led his team to three consecutive national championships and was crowned Mr. Basketball USA in 2015. He was considered the top high school power forward in America, with his exceptional passing and playmaking abilities earning him comparisons to Magic Johnson and LeBron James. It was clear that Simmons was destined for the NBA, but a 2006 rule required high school players to play at least one year in college or a professional league before entering the draft. As a result, Simmons chose to join the LSU Tigers.
Despite leading his team in virtually every statistical category, Simmons showed little genuine interest in playing at LSU, maintaining a low 1.8 GPA. His lack of commitment was even documented in a film called “One and Done”. The team struggled, failing to qualify for the NCAA tournament with a poor win-loss record. Although Simmons was considered the team’s best player, some analysts questioned his character and motivation. Nevertheless, despite LSU’s underwhelming performance, Ben Simmons was still selected as the first overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 NBA draft. Unfortunately, during the pre-season, Simmons suffered a significant setback, requiring him to sit out the entire season due to an ankle fracture.
Shining with the Philadelphia 76ers

In the 2017-2018 NBA season, Simmons proved his worth in his first appearance on the court. He immediately showcased his talent and earned the prestigious Rookie of the Year award that season. The partnership between Simmons and Joel Embiid helped lead the Sixers back to the playoffs for the first time since 2012. However, their playoff journey came to an early end after losing to the Boston Celtics in the first round. Despite the early playoff exit, Simmons was still praised for his exceptional performance as a rookie.
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In the 2018-2019 season, the Sixers welcomed a new star in Jimmy Butler, forming a new big three alongside Simmons and Embiid. With the addition of scoring powerhouse Tobias Harris, the Sixers secured the fourth seed in the regular season. That same season, Simmons achieved another milestone by making his first All-Star appearance. He established himself as one of the NBA’s best two-way players, averaging 16.9 points per game, 8.8 rebounds per game, and 7.7 assists per game, with an impressive field goal percentage (FG) of 56.3%. For context, a field goal percentage above 50% is considered highly efficient.
However, despite these impressive statistics, Simmons struggled with free throws (FT). In his first two seasons, his free throw percentage was only 58%, well below the NBA point guard average of 79%. Simmons increasingly relied on scoring from close range, attempting fewer mid-range jump shots and long-range shots (long/deep twos) compared to his rookie season. Nevertheless, his abilities in other aspects of the game continued to impress everyone.
Sent Home by Kawhi Leonard in the Playoffs
The Sixers advanced to the second round of the 2018-2019 playoffs, only to be eliminated by the Toronto Raptors on Kawhi Leonard’s legendary buzzer-beater. In the 2019-2020 season, Jimmy Butler departed for the Miami Heat, leaving just the Simmons-Embiid duo in Philadelphia. The coach pressured Simmons to take more mid-range, long-range, and three-point shots to become more effective on the court. Initially, Simmons followed this advice and even took guidance from Kobe Bryant, but eventually, he disregarded these suggestions and stopped shooting altogether.
Despite his worsening shooting anxiety, Simmons still managed to become an All-Star, earn All-NBA Third Team honors, and lead the league in steals during the 2019-2020 NBA season. Unfortunately, before the playoffs that same season, Simmons suffered an injury that kept him sidelined, leading to the Sixers’ first-round elimination by the Boston Celtics. The Sixers then awarded Simmons a new five-year contract worth
It’s always exciting for basketball fans to watch young players go toe-to-toe with – and sometimes even outshine – the veterans on the NBA court. Unfortunately, quite a few promising young talents fade away before hitting their prime, unable to maintain the impressive performance levels they showed early in their careers. That’s exactly what seems to be happening with Ben Simmons, the Australian NBA player who was once dubbed the next LeBron because of his similar all-around skill set.
The Brooklyn Nets’ Big Three Falls Apart
When the 2022-2023 NBA season kicked off, many analysts predicted that the Big 3 of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and Ben Simmons would lead the Brooklyn Nets to championship contention. However, two months ago, both Irving and Durant were traded away, leaving Simmons alone in Brooklyn. Meanwhile, Simmons’ performance has dropped dramatically compared to his days with the Philadelphia 76ers. He’s no longer considered a star player – instead, he’s become nothing more than a permanent bench warmer.
Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn announced about three weeks ago that he would make major roster changes following Irving’s departure to the Dallas Mavericks and Durant’s move to the Phoenix Suns. While he didn’t explicitly state that Simmons would be sidelined, Spencer Dinwiddie, who had been playing well in Dallas, was set to become the primary point guard replacing Irving. Seth Curry was named the backup point guard, leaving Cam Thomas and Ben Simmons to compete for the third-string point guard position.
Though Thomas and Simmons have been alternating playing time with the Nets, Simmons has only appeared in five games, averaging a mere 3 points per game. For context, Simmons is making $35 million this season (approximately 548 billion rupiah), matching the salary of star players like Pascal Siakam and Kyrie Irving. His salary is even higher than that of Joel Embiid, Simmons’ former teammate on the Sixers and a starter in this year’s All-Star game. Currently, Simmons has been removed from the Nets’ rotation and is dealing with a back injury, though there’s speculation about whether the injury is genuine or not.

Ben Simmons’ main issue has always been his fear of shooting the ball. Social media is filled with videos showing Simmons passing up open shots, even when he has clear shooting opportunities. These days, he even seems hesitant to attempt basic layups. Beyond his shooting struggles, Simmons also faces mental hurdles that affect his on-court performance, displaying stubbornness and resistance to development. Back in 2019, NBA legend Kobe Bryant predicted that Simmons’ career would crumble if he didn’t develop a jump shot. Bryant acknowledged Simmons’ potential but warned that he would regret not developing his shooting ability later in his career.
Ben Simmons’ Early Career
Let’s dive into Ben Simmons’ backstory. Born in Australia on July 20, 1996, Simmons came from a basketball family, with his father being a former star in the NBL, Australia’s professional basketball league. Simmons grew into an extraordinary player, standing an unusual 6’10” for a point guard. While he possessed incredible abilities - an athletic body, remarkable agility, exceptional passing skills, playmaking prowess, and defensive talent - he still struggled with shooting.
During his time at Montverde High School, Simmons led his team to three consecutive national championships and was crowned Mr. Basketball USA in 2015. He was considered the top high school power forward in America, with his exceptional passing and playmaking abilities earning him comparisons to Magic Johnson and LeBron James. It was clear that Simmons was destined for the NBA, but a 2006 rule required high school players to play at least one year in college or a professional league before entering the draft. As a result, Simmons chose to join the LSU Tigers.
Despite leading his team in virtually every statistical category, Simmons showed little genuine interest in playing at LSU, maintaining a low 1.8 GPA. His lack of commitment was even documented in a film called “One and Done”. The team struggled, failing to qualify for the NCAA tournament with a poor win-loss record. Although Simmons was considered the team’s best player, some analysts questioned his character and motivation. Nevertheless, despite LSU’s underwhelming performance, Ben Simmons was still selected as the first overall pick by the Philadelphia 76ers in the 2016 NBA draft. Unfortunately, during the pre-season, Simmons suffered a significant setback, requiring him to sit out the entire season due to an ankle fracture.
Shining with the Philadelphia 76ers

In the 2017-2018 NBA season, Simmons proved his worth in his first appearance on the court. He immediately showcased his talent and earned the prestigious Rookie of the Year award that season. The partnership between Simmons and Joel Embiid helped lead the Sixers back to the playoffs for the first time since 2012. However, their playoff journey came to an early end after losing to the Boston Celtics in the first round. Despite the early playoff exit, Simmons was still praised for his exceptional performance as a rookie.
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In the 2018-2019 season, the Sixers welcomed a new star in Jimmy Butler, forming a new big three alongside Simmons and Embiid. With the addition of scoring powerhouse Tobias Harris, the Sixers secured the fourth seed in the regular season. That same season, Simmons achieved another milestone by making his first All-Star appearance. He established himself as one of the NBA’s best two-way players, averaging 16.9 points per game, 8.8 rebounds per game, and 7.7 assists per game, with an impressive field goal percentage (FG) of 56.3%. For context, a field goal percentage above 50% is considered highly efficient.
However, despite these impressive statistics, Simmons struggled with free throws (FT). In his first two seasons, his free throw percentage was only 58%, well below the NBA point guard average of 79%. Simmons increasingly relied on scoring from close range, attempting fewer mid-range jump shots and long-range shots (long/deep twos) compared to his rookie season. Nevertheless, his abilities in other aspects of the game continued to impress everyone.
Sent Home by Kawhi Leonard in the Playoffs
The Sixers advanced to the second round of the 2018-2019 playoffs, only to be eliminated by the Toronto Raptors on Kawhi Leonard’s legendary buzzer-beater. In the 2019-2020 season, Jimmy Butler departed for the Miami Heat, leaving just the Simmons-Embiid duo in Philadelphia. The coach pressured Simmons to take more mid-range, long-range, and three-point shots to become more effective on the court. Initially, Simmons followed this advice and even took guidance from Kobe Bryant, but eventually, he disregarded these suggestions and stopped shooting altogether.
Despite his worsening shooting anxiety, Simmons still managed to become an All-Star, earn All-NBA Third Team honors, and lead the league in steals during the 2019-2020 NBA season. Unfortunately, before the playoffs that same season, Simmons suffered an injury that kept him sidelined, leading to the Sixers’ first-round elimination by the Boston Celtics. The Sixers then awarded Simmons a new five-year contract worth $177 million, or approximately 548 billion rupiah per year. For the 2020-2021 season, the Sixers recruited sharpshooter Danny Green, who had just won a championship with the Lakers.
That season, the Sixers improved significantly, finishing first in the Eastern Conference. Simmons became the team’s defensive anchor, finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He also made the All-Star team and the All-NBA Defensive First Team that season. However, his scoring, assist, and rebound averages all declined compared to the previous season. He wasn’t as aggressive in scoring as before. Not only did Simmons avoid mid-range, long-range, and three-point shots, but he also became increasingly hesitant to attempt close-range shots and layups.
Playoff Collapse Against the Hawks
When the playoffs arrived, the Sixers were heavily favored to easily dispatch their opponents and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, given their regular season success. However, they suffered a shocking second-round defeat to the underdog Atlanta Hawks. The primary cause of this humiliating loss was Ben Simmons, whose free-throw percentage plummeted to just 33% in the series. This was even worse than Ben Wallace, who holds the record for the lowest career free-throw percentage in NBA history at 41%.
In Game 5, the Hawks employed the Hack-a-Shaq strategy against Simmons, intentionally fouling him to force free-throw attempts. This was a predictable tactic given Simmons’ terrible free-throw shooting, which essentially guaranteed the Hawks would regain possession. But an even more embarrassing moment - one that would become infamous - occurred in Game 7. In the final minutes of the fourth quarter, Simmons passed up an open layup when confronted by Trae Young. For context, Young stands at just 6’1” (185 cm), a full 9 inches (23 cm) shorter than Simmons.

In the final three games of the series, Simmons attempted an average of only 5 shots per game, making just 2 - a truly dismal showing. The Sixers’ elimination by the Hawks made Simmons the target of widespread ridicule throughout the NBA community, eventually taking a toll on his mental health. Furthermore, his coach and teammates appeared reluctant to support or help him through this period. As a result, Simmons vowed never to play for the Sixers again and demanded a trade.
Failed to Become the Next LeBron
The Sixers honored his trade request by searching for the best possible trade package for Simmons, but no NBA team wanted him due to his well-known shooting fears. After almost an entire season, Simmons was finally traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster deal involving James Harden midway through the 2021-2022 season. Unfortunately, Simmons couldn’t play immediately due to a back injury. During the first round of the 2021-2022 playoffs, with the Nets down 2-0 to the Celtics, Simmons announced he would play in Game 4.
However, after the Nets lost Game 3 to fall behind 3-0, Simmons suddenly backtracked on his earlier statement, declaring he wouldn’t play in Game 4. Many NBA fans suspected Simmons withdrew to avoid the embarrassment of being swept 4-0. These fan theories seemed to confirm Simmons’ reputation for having a cunning and frustrating attitude. As mentioned earlier, Simmons had always been known as someone resistant to growth and lacking in competitive fire.
In a September 2022 interview on J.J. Redick’s podcast, Simmons expressed hope that people would appreciate his abilities beyond scoring. Unfortunately, his return to play with the Nets proved otherwise, as his performance declined significantly. He began committing fouls at an alarming rate, leading the league in fouls per game, indicating his defensive abilities had deteriorated severely. Simmons averaged just 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists. His free throw percentage dropped to 44%, and he played only 19 minutes per game this past February.
These statistics - points, rebounds, assists, and others - represent career lows for Simmons in the NBA. These numbers are particularly disappointing given his star-level contract. This seems to validate Kobe’s 2019 prediction and advice about Simmons - that he was stubborn, unwilling to develop, and content to stay in his comfort zone. A player once heralded as the next LeBron James has now been reduced to a permanent bench player on his team.
77 million, or approximately 548 billion rupiah per year. For the 2020-2021 season, the Sixers recruited sharpshooter Danny Green, who had just won a championship with the Lakers.That season, the Sixers improved significantly, finishing first in the Eastern Conference. Simmons became the team’s defensive anchor, finishing second in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He also made the All-Star team and the All-NBA Defensive First Team that season. However, his scoring, assist, and rebound averages all declined compared to the previous season. He wasn’t as aggressive in scoring as before. Not only did Simmons avoid mid-range, long-range, and three-point shots, but he also became increasingly hesitant to attempt close-range shots and layups.
Playoff Collapse Against the Hawks
When the playoffs arrived, the Sixers were heavily favored to easily dispatch their opponents and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, given their regular season success. However, they suffered a shocking second-round defeat to the underdog Atlanta Hawks. The primary cause of this humiliating loss was Ben Simmons, whose free-throw percentage plummeted to just 33% in the series. This was even worse than Ben Wallace, who holds the record for the lowest career free-throw percentage in NBA history at 41%.
In Game 5, the Hawks employed the Hack-a-Shaq strategy against Simmons, intentionally fouling him to force free-throw attempts. This was a predictable tactic given Simmons’ terrible free-throw shooting, which essentially guaranteed the Hawks would regain possession. But an even more embarrassing moment - one that would become infamous - occurred in Game 7. In the final minutes of the fourth quarter, Simmons passed up an open layup when confronted by Trae Young. For context, Young stands at just 6’1” (185 cm), a full 9 inches (23 cm) shorter than Simmons.

In the final three games of the series, Simmons attempted an average of only 5 shots per game, making just 2 - a truly dismal showing. The Sixers’ elimination by the Hawks made Simmons the target of widespread ridicule throughout the NBA community, eventually taking a toll on his mental health. Furthermore, his coach and teammates appeared reluctant to support or help him through this period. As a result, Simmons vowed never to play for the Sixers again and demanded a trade.
Failed to Become the Next LeBron
The Sixers honored his trade request by searching for the best possible trade package for Simmons, but no NBA team wanted him due to his well-known shooting fears. After almost an entire season, Simmons was finally traded to the Brooklyn Nets in a blockbuster deal involving James Harden midway through the 2021-2022 season. Unfortunately, Simmons couldn’t play immediately due to a back injury. During the first round of the 2021-2022 playoffs, with the Nets down 2-0 to the Celtics, Simmons announced he would play in Game 4.
However, after the Nets lost Game 3 to fall behind 3-0, Simmons suddenly backtracked on his earlier statement, declaring he wouldn’t play in Game 4. Many NBA fans suspected Simmons withdrew to avoid the embarrassment of being swept 4-0. These fan theories seemed to confirm Simmons’ reputation for having a cunning and frustrating attitude. As mentioned earlier, Simmons had always been known as someone resistant to growth and lacking in competitive fire.
In a September 2022 interview on J.J. Redick’s podcast, Simmons expressed hope that people would appreciate his abilities beyond scoring. Unfortunately, his return to play with the Nets proved otherwise, as his performance declined significantly. He began committing fouls at an alarming rate, leading the league in fouls per game, indicating his defensive abilities had deteriorated severely. Simmons averaged just 6.9 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists. His free throw percentage dropped to 44%, and he played only 19 minutes per game this past February.
These statistics - points, rebounds, assists, and others - represent career lows for Simmons in the NBA. These numbers are particularly disappointing given his star-level contract. This seems to validate Kobe’s 2019 prediction and advice about Simmons - that he was stubborn, unwilling to develop, and content to stay in his comfort zone. A player once heralded as the next LeBron James has now been reduced to a permanent bench player on his team.