Doc Rivers is a staunch supporter of Ben Simmons whether or not he shoots 3s. Rivers likened him to Magic Johnson in a recent interview.
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Benny 1-point (had to do it one time #holocaust) is one of trolls’ favorite players to target. The 24-year-old is now in his 5th year in the league and is playing his 4th active season.
Listed as a guard despite having a height in excess of 6’9″, Simmons is an extraordinary player, to say the least. The point forward can legitimately defend stars at all 5 positions on the court.
His defensive value would alone justify a starting berth, but Simmons is an amazing offensive player as well. In his last season as a full-time point guard, Simmons led the league in assisted 3-point attempts.
He’s also a marauding transition weapon, always on the ready to embark on fast breaks. Simmons’ value goes way beyond his box scores and advanced stats.
Doc Rivers likens Ben Simmons to Magic Johnson
Appearing on Danny Green’s ‘Inside the Green Room’ podcast, the Doc shared some sage advice. He also advised Simmons haters to look elsewhere, asking them to appreciate his skillset instead:
“Just because Ben Simmons doesn’t score 3s doesn’t mean he doesn’t create 3s. He creates the most looks from range in the league, so that is scoring. Ben’s ability to get into the paint and see the floor, create mismatches every night tells you just how good he is.”
“And it’s funny, before the 3-point line was really popular, there was a guy named Magic Johnson. And no one cared that he didn’t make 3s or shoot 3s. They just loved how Magic played. I wish we could look at Ben more like that than him needing to be Steph Curry.”
“Because he’s not going to be, nor does he want to be Steph. I think when people put these guys in boxes, they should put it in a winning box. Like how he effects winning. Ben effects winning in a big way for us.”
