Ben Simmons knows his critics are overly concerned with his three-point-game, but he has assured everyone that the day will become when he’s getting buckets from beyond the arc.
“I know it’s going to come,” Simmons told ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan.
“It’s a matter of me being comfortable doing it. Some of that is getting the reps in.”
Simmons, notoriously trigger shy behind the arc, explained he’s not going to start launching threes until he’s confident they’re going in.
“With threes … I’ve got to make it a point of emphasis,” he said.
“I could be one of those guys shooting 30 percent right now. But I’d rather be one of those guys shooting 40 percent,” said Simmons.
Practice makes perfect, but after entering the NBA in 2017, Simmons had launched less than 20 shots behind the 3-point line before he finally sunk one.
The magic happened against the Knicks last November in front of the hometown crowd.
Simmons hit his first 3-pointer from the corner.
👌😤👌😤👌 pic.twitter.com/pO98CaKS55
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) November 21, 2019
The Sixer All-Star is averaging 16.4 points, 8.0 assists, 8.3 rebounds for his career with a slight increase this season in points and assists.
Simmons has the size and strength of a power forward and the agility of a point guard.
He has great court vision and is an excellent passer.
All of these attributes make him extremely difficult to guard, except behind the 3-point line.
All success stories are rooted in failure.
The Sixers want to win a title, but odds are they won’t be hoisting up the Larry O’Brien trophy until Simmons find his mojo from long-range.