Durant: Sixers’ Ben Simmons “has a leg up on the other rookies”

By Josh Liddick, Sports Talk Philly editor 

Compared to other rookies around the NBA, it seems as if Ben Simmons hasn't nearly received the amount of praise that he necessarily deserves.

Although he hasn't played a basketball game since college almost two years ago at LSU, there is a ton of hope that Simmons will deliver as the player he has been expected to be since he was drafted No. 1 in 2016.

The Sixers' point guard/power forward has a really positive outlook, and with his increased positivity on coming back, and officially being medically cleared to compete, there is a really solid chance of Simmons dominating on many aspects of the game next season.

Kevin Durant has been known to be a pretty outspoken individual in the basketball community and shown a lot of praise towards a lot of players. Seeing KD being so positive about Simmons' future with the Sixers among other rookies is a really great sight to see.

Durant got a chance to talk to The Ringer's Bill Simmons, and he praised Ben's game, as well as how much he compares to the other rookies around the league.

“I know he ain’t play no games but you been around the league for a year you know how it is. You got a leg up on the rookies. I’m looking forward to playing against him.”

I really see Simmons' rookie season to be very similar to the way Embiid dominated last season after being injured for two years.

Simmons has a year of watching the NBA and players around the league, and getting a leg up on all the other rookies, just because of his experience just being present.

Simmons also has had time to work on his shot, something he definitely needed to touch up, and there is a noticeable difference in his shot now compared to before he made his way into the league.

There is a lot for Simmons to prove this year, but a compliment like that from the reigning Finals MVP is a really good sign of all the good things that are happening for Simmons and the Sixers.

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