Ben Simmons is arguably one of the biggest disappointments of the 2018 draft class. People initially compared him to LeBron James or Magic Johnson because of his size, passing and ability to control an offense at 6-foot-10. Unfortunately, the career never came close to those expectations. An inability to figure out the jumper or consistently play with aggression became the biggest problem, with the infamous Trae Young possession becoming the moment everyone remembers. Another season probably brings much of the same, and the back injury cannot explain all of it.
Since the 2021-22 season, supporters have argued that Simmons was never the same after suffering serious back problems. Fair enough, the injuries were real and clearly hurt his athleticism and availability. Looking at the trajectory before those injuries, though, the argument starts to fall apart a little.
Simmons averaged 15.8 points as a rookie, followed by 16.9, 16.4, and then 14.3 points per game. Development as a scorer was already flattening out before the back completely became an issue. Simmons never developed a reliable jumper, half-court aggression stayed inconsistent, and defenses became more comfortable sagging off him. Back problems made Simmons worse, but the same offensive limitations were already there before everything fell apart.
Simmons’ workout videos showing off the “new and improved” jumper seem to finally be disappearing. Shirtless Simmons pictures have now taken their place.
Every offseason used to bring another clip of Simmons knocking down jumpers in an empty gym, followed by fans convincing themselves that the shot was finally coming. Recent offseason content has shifted more toward showing that Simmons is healthy, in shape and physically ready to play again.
Unfortunately, looking good in a workout has never really been the issue. NBA defenses are not worried about whether Simmons can hit a jumper during practice. Defenders will stand several feet away from him, clog driving lanes and dare him to shoot until he proves otherwise in an actual game.
Recent history also makes the comeback talk harder to buy completely. Simmons stepped away from the league and reportedly cut communication with teams during parts of the process, so expecting an immediate return to being a major rotation piece feels ambitious.
Simmons being called a bust sounds extreme until the original expectations are remembered. A No. 1 overall pick with comparisons to LeBron and Magic was supposed to become one of the faces of the league.
Early success made those expectations feel possible. Rookie of the Year, three All-Star appearances and all-star defense showed that the talent was real. The disappointment comes from how quickly the development stopped.
Modern NBA offenses punish non-shooters harder than ever. Simmons became easier to scheme against because teams could go under screens, leave him alone on the perimeter and use his defender as extra help around the paint. Passing and transition playmaking still had value, but half-court possessions became harder whenever Simmons refused to threaten the rim or shoot.
A useful role player might still exist somewhere in there. Playmaking and elite defense could still help a team. Superstar expectations, however, are long gone.
Ben Simmons may come back healthy and still find a useful role in the NBA. Another superstar comeback story, though, feels like the same hype cycle starting over again.
The injuries have to be taken seriously, but they are not telling the whole picture. Simmons’ scoring had already plateaued, his jumper never developed and his willingness to attack undermined any elite defensive or playmaking qualities that existed.
Another season of people waiting for the old Ben Simmons to finally appear probably ends the same way most of the others did: pretty mid.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
