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NBA Draft 2016: Pro Comparisons For the Top Draft Prospects

By Eric Yee

Jan 15, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) reacts after a play during the second quarter of a game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Hornets 109-107 Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 15, 2016; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) reacts after a play during the second quarter of a game against the Charlotte Hornets at the Smoothie King Center. The Pelicans defeated the Hornets 109-107 Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 3, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) warms up before the game against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 3, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers forward Blake Griffin (32) warms up before the game against the Washington Wizards at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

Ben Simmons – Blake Griffin

At a passing glance the similarities are definitely there: 6-foot-9, check. 240 pound build, check. Outstanding court vision and ball handling ability for a big, check. But lets get one thing clear, there is no way that Ben Simmons is the next LeBron James or Magic Johnson.

LeBron James is a once in a lifetime player. At 6’9, 240 pounds of pure muscle, with some of the craziest fast twitch muscles you’ve never seen, who not only claims that he wants to win championships but also puts himself in the best position to actually do so, sorry, but it’s not going to happen. In different words, the same could be said about Magic Johnson.

With that out of the way, a realistic comparison for Ben Simmons could actually be Los Angeles Clippers’ bad boy, Blake Griffin. Similar to Griffin, Simmons has a relatively small wingspan which could prove to be his tragic flaw when it comes to fully actualizing his potential down the line.

However, what they lack in elite wingspan and height they make up for in supreme athleticism and ball handling skills that a man that big shouldn’t be allowed to possess. That said, even now Simmons is a better passer than Griffin who often has problems finessing passes when need be.

Again, like Griffin, Simmons is a player used to physically imposing his will on others but as Blake quickly learned, you can’t always muscle your way through the bigger, stronger players in the NBA. Simmons will need to greatly expand his range but seeing how Blake did it, it shouldn’t be a problem for the LSU prospect who is already working in the gym to do just that.

Next: Providence's Kris Dunn

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