TORONTO, CANADA – MAY 12: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers stretches before the game against the Toronto Raptors during Game Seven of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on May 12, 2019 at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Mark Blinch/NBAE via Getty Images)
The Philadelphia 76ers made an enormous investment in Ben Simmons on Tuesday.
The Philadelphia 76ers are putting their faith in point guard Ben Simmons. They extended his contract for five years and $168 million on Tuesday, and the onus will now be on him to win the franchise their first title since Julius Irving and Moses Malone swept the Los Angeles Lakers and led Philadelphia to the promised land in 1983.
ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski reported the news on Twitter.
Simmons was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 draft, and he won Rookie of the Year in 2018 after losing one season to a broken foot. He is only 22, and the sky is the limit for him, especially if his jump shot improves. That was the main reason the Sixers lost to the Toronto Raptors in the Eastern Conference semifinals. Kawhi Leonard was the one who put them down with a dagger buzzer-beater in Game 7 that hit the rim four times and will live in infamy.
Simmons wouldn’t shoot from outside in the playoffs. Here is his remarkable shot chart for his entire series against the Boston Celtics in the first round.
It’s been a crazy offseason for Philadelphia. They signed forward Tobias Harris to a five-year, $180 million deal, and they traded Jimmy Butler to the Miami Heat and got Josh Richardson back in a four-team trade. That must’ve taken a lot of phone calls.
Simmons averaged 16.9 points, 8.8 rebounds, and 7.7 assists last season for the Sixers, but his averages dwindled to 13.9 points, 7.1 rebounds and 6.0 assists in the playoffs. Those are decent numbers, but he isn’t a superstar yet.
He needs to work on many aspects of his game, but he has incredible potential. He won the 2014-15 Gatorade High School Basketball Player of the Year. Basically, you know that he’s a young man with a sharp mind and excellent character because that award requires excellent grades and a lot of community service.
Simmons is now a paid man. It’s just a matter of if he can deliver the goods.