Lakers Draft Prospects: Ben Simmons Breakdown

Offense

As seen when talking about his athleticism, Simmons is incredibly dangerous on the offensive end of the floor when attacking in the halfcourt. He has tremendous ball handling on the outside for a player at his size and position, especially in his ability to attack the rim. Throw in his athleticism and strength in relation to his size, he’s also incredibly difficult to contain once he gets to the rim.

However, the biggest strength of Simmons’ offensive prowess is his ability to facilitate and pass. If there’s any area that the Tigers frosh is comparable to LeBron, it’s in this area. He has the strength to make passes that most 19-year-olds are unable to, but also has the fantastic court vision to see the outlets and lanes to make those passes happen:

As you can see with that outlet pass and could guess with how he can attack in the halfcourt off of the dribble, Simmons operating in transition is a thing of beauty. Not only can he run the break as a point forward and facilitate the play, but he’s just as dangerous running on the wing with his speed and athletic ability.

The biggest knock on Simmons offensively is his lack of shooting on the perimeter. He doesn’t take or hit on his jumper consistently, both of which are at least a tad troubling:

If you look at his form, though, his shot is far from broken at 19 years old. His mechanics need tuning, but they are more than workable moving forward as he transitions to the NBA and could easily develop in this regard moving forward.

Next: Defensive Breakdown