Photo credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
Ben Simmons played basketball in Philadelphia. It was preseason hoops, but who cares about that right now.
He started at point guard tonight and boy did he have himself a night.
Highlights from his preseason debut after the jump:
He started the game right out of the gate:
His vision is gonna be unreal.
I’m all for half-court alley oops.
His last assist in the first half was something I can’t explain:
He posted seven assists in the first half:
Already, his presence is going to make his teammates better. Prime example of this midway through the third quarter:
Four guys watching Ben left Covington wide open for an easy three.
His per 36 minute stats would have given him a triple-double:
The fact that he won’t have a minutes restriction this season makes me more giddy about his potential for this season. He was a crowd favorite immediately, and that may be able to help Markelle Fultz during the season:
Fultz is still adapting, and Joel isn’t cleared for 5-on-5 drills. But Ben has some work to do as well, including his shot.
Grizzlies head coach David Fizdale said the hype is real surrounding Simmons. He’s right.