15
Nov
Aussies in the NBA
Joel Embiid: 'He reminded me of Ben Simmons'
Australian Ben Simmons #25 and Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers give each other five during the second half of Game 3 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals at State Farm Arena on June 12, 2021 (AEDT) in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images
Highlights
Joel Embiid’s praise for Trendon Watford recalls memories of "All-Star Ben Simmons" in Philadelphia
- The Ballard of Aussie Benjamin David Simmons
- Could 'Ballard of Ben' join Joe Ingles and Rocco Zikarsky?
- Ben Simmons had 'all the talent in the world'
1,609 days ago Joel Embiid blamed Australian point-forward Ben Simmons for the Philadelphia losing in the 2021 NBA Playoffs — beginning an agonising separation between the 76ers and Simmons.
June 20, 2021 with 3:31 left in the fourth, the 76ers down a bucket against the Atlanta Hawks in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, Simmons turned baseline but instead of the 6'10", 109kg, point-forward hammering the ball home over the top of 6'1", 74kg Hawks point guard Trae Young he passed to fellow Australian Matisse Thybulle. Thybulle was fouled on his dunk attempt and made just 1-of-2.
"I'll be honest. I thought the turning point was when we, I don’t know how to say it, is when we had an open shot and we made one free throw," Embiid said.
Cut to this week and fifth-year power forward Trendon Watford's triple double against the Toronto Raptors. Watford had 20 points, 17 rebounds and 10 assists in 37 minutes as the 76ers rolled the Raptors 130-120.
Embiid said Watford "reminded me of Ben Simmons tonight."
"That was good, he added. "We miss those. Triple double, doing everything, so that was good."
Simmons, 29, who is yet to sign with an NBA team this season after being bought out by the Brooklyn Nets and signing with the Los Angeles Clippers before the trade deadline last season, averaged a triple-double every 8.6 games for the 76ers
Ben Simmons Key Details
- Position: Forward / Point-Forward
- Height / Weight: 6’10” (208 cm) │ 240 lbs (109 kg)
- Age: 29 (December 20, 1996)
- Nationality: Australian
- Most Recent Team: Los Angeles Clippers (2024-25, vet-min deal)
- Previous: Brooklyn Nets, Philadelphia 76ers
- Status: Unrestricted Free Agent
In 275 game for the 76ers, who drafted the Melbourne-born star with the first pick of the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons delivered 32 triple doubles between 2017 and 2021, including an astonishing 12 in his rookie year on the way to winning Rookie of the Year.
"I mean, he had all the talent in the world,’’ First Ballot NBA Hall of Famer and NBA champion Dirk Nowitzki told Australian newspaper Sunday Herald Sun.
“Not quite sure all the stuff that happened there in Philly but it was disappointing.
“He was like the rising star there for a long, long time. So we’ll see what happens.
"It’s still early. Sometimes things get picked up later. You just got to stay ready, stay working out.
“There’s still a bunch of free agents out there that I thought had a chance to be in the league.
"But there’s just unfortunately only so many spots in our league … hopefully Ben can find a way back in.’’
In Philadelphia, Simmons was a three-time NBA All-Star (2019–2021); All-NBA Third Team (2020); two-time NBA All-Defensive First Team (2020, 2021); NBA Rookie of the Year (2018); NBA All-Rookie First Team (2018); and NBA steals leader (2020).
Simmons has earned more than AUD $310M (USD $203M) in his nine-year career.
