76ers Coach Brett Brown Wants Ben Simmons 'Groomed' to Be a Point Guard for His Rookie Debut

Brett Brown predicts Ben Simmons to return from his fractured right foot injury for rookie debut to be in January.

Nov 06, 2016
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Image via Complex Original
Not Available Lead
Image via Complex Original

NBA players who stand near 7-foot tall with ball-handling skills are prized commodities in today's league. Players like Kevin Durant, Draymond Green, DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, Giannis Antetokounmpo or Brandon Ingram do fairly well pushing the rock in the open court on fast breaks, or in half-court sets.

Ben Simmons is another tall specimen in the category who proved his impressive ability last season at LSU and during the Summer League to square up to the basket and take his opponents off the dribble from the post or from the top of the key.

76ers coach Brett Brown claimed that he wanted Simmons to focus on his ball-handling skills and wants him to be "groomed" as a point guard. Brown revealed to ESPN his vision for Simmons playing PG for this past summer No. 1 overall NBA draft pick.

“My intention is to give him the ball,” Brown said. “I think that ultimately he’s going to be groomed to be a point guard.”

Brown also quipped his reasons for converting the Australian baller into a point guard. "It [athleticism] is certainly not the be all end all, but it certainly helps," he said. "That type of breakaway speed at 6'10, 245 pounds. He is an elite athlete. Apart from the skill package that he most definitely has, I feel like that's one of the foundations of a lot of the great players."

Simmons is currently rehabiliating his fractured right foot that he suffered on Sept. 30, the final day of training camp, and remains in the injured list after it was reported he'd miss this entire season. According to Philly.com, Brown recently stated on Oct. 22 that he's hopefully set to officially debut for his rookie season in January.

"It’s not doom and gloom,” Brown said during a shootaround at American Airlines Arena on Oct.22. “Ben is coming back in January."

Brown added about Simmons, "I was just getting excited about how soon he might be able to come back. There are so much speculation and dates as a coach you sort of want to hear what you want to hear at a time. I did mention a January hopeful return. That is premature. […] That is a coach doing a lot more wishing than receiving instruction. So we will play this out. Everything is on track with his rehabilitation.”

Again, this is all a part of The Process. All the Sixers brass asks from their fans is trust.

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