Ben Simmons, Brandon Ingram, who has the better career
The 2016 National Basketball Association draft was highlighted by which teams were able to acquire the flagship prizes of either Ben Simmons or Brandon Ingram.
Every few years the NBA draft will contain two franchise changing players that can either lead a franchise to colossal successes or cataclysmic failure for an eternity.
Lets face it, the Philadelphia 76ers tanked for three long years, holding a record of 47-199 during that span.
While enduring Sam Hinkie’s “trust the process", 13-page manifesto before his departure as 76ers General Manager.
However, lets not forget that his litany of ethos and inspirational quotes allowed the 76ers to land Simmons, who many pundits and scouts feel is this year’s jackpot.
In the last few seasons, Los Angeles Lakers have endured a family feud among Jim Buss, Jennie Buss and her boyfriend New York Knicks President, Phil Jackson.
Lakers guard, D'Angelo Russell surreptitiously videotaping his teammate, Nick Young sharing his stories of his trysts.
Lastly, Kobe Bryant devoured the development of young talent and the team’s salary cap before they were able to land Ingram, who many experts feel is the second best player of this draft.
You pick Simmons you have a 6’10, 240-pound, point-forward who at that size is a unique floor general from his dynamic passing ability to his sheer athleticism and slashing ability.
However, Simmons lacks a jump shot and a consistent effort on the defensive end.
You pick Ingram, you have a thin, gangly 6’9, 190-pound swing-man who has a silky smooth jump shot from 30 feet and in.
Matched with his ability to create his own shot off the dribble while showing an effort to be a good on-the-ball defender and rim protector.
Yet, can Ingram handle the physicality of the NBA as a forward who is 190-pound,soaking wet?
Don’t even begin to utter that Ingram is Durant’s disciple because of the similar playing style and long and lanky physique.
Although Durant lacked weight when he first entered the league, barely benching 185 pounds, he was at least 225 pounds in the 2007-08 NBA season.
Durant looked more polished and ready for the NBA than Ingram.
In Durant’s one and only year at the University of Texas, he averaged 25.8 points per game, and 11.1 rebounds per game, winning the Naismith College Player of the Year in 2006-07.
Ingram’s average of 17.3 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 41 three point percentage didn’t even equate to being the best player on that Duke team, for it was clearly Grayson Allen who led the team with 21.6 per game in the 2015-16 season.
Ingram can eat all the eggs, bacon, sausage, chicken, rice, vegetables, fish and steaks that he wants but I can guarantee that he won't reach his goal of 210 pounds by the start of the season.
If people want to keep putting that immense amount of pressure on Ingram, he just might be the disciple to what Harold Minor was to Jordan.
At 6’10, 240 pounds Simmons is not only more NBA ready than Ingram but he has a much higher ceiling from his innate basketball IQ to his passing prowess, and ability to make the players around him better and more of a threat even when he's not scoring.
Many experts question Simmons’ work ethic, and his passion because he didn’t show much effort or leadership during his one and done year at Louisiana State University, who finished the season with a dismal 19-14 record in 2016.
I don't care if Simmons pulled out his Barcalounger and got chummy with meat pies in his dorm for most of the year at LSU.
Simmons was just fulfilling his obligation, yet still averaged 19.2 PPG, 11.8 RPG and 4.8 assists per game in 32 games as a freshman and he “wasn’t even trying”.
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His LSU team didn’t even remotely have same level of coaching and talent that Ingram had with a Duke team that finished with a record of 25-11 before losing to Oregon in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament's Sweet 16 in 2016.
The Sixers are clearly building a team with Simmons as the apex of the franchise. Simmons will have his free regain to run the show as the floor general.
Sixers coach Brett Brown has stated that they will use Simmons as a point guard.
I can see the Sixers having even a better version of the way the Milwaukee Bucks coach Jason Kidd uses Giannis Antetokounmpo as a 6’11 point-forward.
Ingram is in a situation where it might not ever be his team as long as D’Angelo Russell is there. I can see Russell being the Russell Westbrook of the Lakers from haphazardly taking a high volume of shots, which would sabotage the development of Ingram.
Simmons' deficiencies, such as his inability to consistently hit an open jump shot to his lack of effort on the defensive end are certainly easier areas to fix than Ingram inability to grasp the physically of the NBA.
Simmons’ athleticism, ball handling skills, and overall strength will allow him to attack the basket above the rim and score at will.
Whereas Ingram will be dependent on scoring around the perimeter, so he won’t be as much of a threat.
In fact, I don’t think Ingram’s ball handling skills are at a strong NBA level yet, for I think he is going to struggle his first few years with creating his own shot in the NBA.
Especially during his rookie campaign against elite perimeter defenders in the Western Conference, such as Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green, Andre Iguodala and Tony Allen.
Long term, I think it will be more difficult for Ingram to reach the NBA Finals coming out of the West in comparison to Simmons, coming out of an improved, yet a weaker Eastern Conference.
Do I think Ingram can be an All-Star?
I absolutely believe that he can be, but more of the ceiling of a Carmelo Anthony type of star.
Anthony always had the skills of a Superstar, yet was never had the leadership skills to consistently lead a team to a championship level.
Yet, when you ask me if Simmons can be an All-Star?
I strongly believe that he will not only be a perennial All-Star, but a Superstar in the wakes of an LeBron James or Magic Johnson.
I see the charisma and electric flashiness in Simmons' game that patterns a dash of James athleticism, a pinch of Johnson’s court vision, and a smidgen of Lamar Odom as a 6’10 left-handed point-forward.
Around the 2003 NBA draft I heard the same story of, “Lebron doesn’t have much of a jump shot, yet Carmelo has a better jump shot and offensive game that is better geared for the NBA.”
13 years later, three championships, three finals MVPs, and four league MVPs, we all know who had the better career.