The wait continues for Ben Simmons, the Sixers’ No. 1 overall pick who has yet to make his NBA debut after getting foot surgery this offseason. After his surgery, January was cited as his likely return — and here we are. So now what? For those scouring the web for an update, the news is looking up for the big 6-foot-10 point forward from LSU.
Joel Embiid served as an NBA insider for reporters at the Sixers training facility Tuesday, and hinted to the media that Simmons’ return is likely imminent.
“We played [Simmons] at point guard today,” Embiid said via Tom Moore after practice.”It’s exciting. I can’t wait to play with him.”
There was some debate as the season began as to what role the college standout would play in the NBA — but it sounds like it’s been pretty much decided that he will play point guard.
The team, save for T.J. McConnell, is wanting at that position and his elusiveness and quickness should make up for his lack of shooting ability and perhaps his size — which may both assist and hinder his defense against other NBA point guards. Once Simmons enters the fold, Brett Brown will have his full menu of young players to work with, though recent games (like two straight healthy scratches of Jahlil Okafor) imply that there is still a ton of rotation and lineup questions remaining regardless of the team’s health. But Embiidisn’t worried about semantics — he just wants his teammates on the floor with him.
“The next step is all of us getting on the court and being healthy,” Embiid said. “When that happens, the sky is the limit.”
Ben Simmons update: Sixers’ No. 1 pick plays point guard in practice
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