The NBA Draft is only a few weeks away which means pre-draft workouts will be occurring more frequently all the way up until draft night on June 23
Seeing as to the fact that LSU prospect, Ben Simmons skipped the NBA Draft Combine last month, the last time he was officially measured was in 2015 as released by his “official college team.” Coming in at 6’10 with shoes, 240 pounds with a seven foot wingspan and a nine foot standing reach, Simmons was already a physically imposing freshman.
However, Chad Ford recently posted his updated pre-draft measurements after attending a Simmons workout with Klutch Sports on Wednesday morning.
Anthropometric data for @BenSimmons25: 6' 10.25" in shoes, 240 lbs, 7' 0.5" wing, 8' 11" reach, 10.25" hand length & reach
— NBA Big Board (@chadfordinsider) June 1, 2016
Looking at his measurements, it actually looks like either he’s gotten smaller, or more realistically that the measurements were recorded incorrectly one of the two times. That said, it wasn’t his anthropometric data that stood out but his athletic testing numbers that raised some eyebrows.
Athletic testing for @BenSimmons25: 31.5" standing vert, 33" 1-step vert, 3.05 sec 3/4 sprint, 10.61 sec lane agility
— NBA Big Board (@chadfordinsider) June 1, 2016
For reference, Lakers Nation writer, Trevor Lane also posted Julius Randle, Jordan Clarkson and Larry Nance Jr.‘s numbers from the same tests.
Randle- 29", 35.5", 3.27, 11.45. Simmons faster, MUCH quicker laterally
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) June 1, 2016
Clarkson- 33", 38.5", 3.28, 10.76 Simmons faster/quicker than JC
For reference, @Larrydn22 was 29", 37.5", 3.25, 10.89. Simmons' quickness is impressive. https://t.co/Xye0tc4BO7
— Trevor Lane (@Trevor_Lane) June 1, 2016
Per Lane’s Tweets, the most surprising tidbit was actually the fact that Simmons was both faster and quicker than Clarkson in the 3/4 court sprint and lane agility drill. Sure, Simmons may be longer but it’s impressive nonetheless.
If measured accurately, Simmons’ lane agility numbers would have ranked him seventh overall and his 3/4 court spring would have been first overall at the Draft Combine.
.@BenSimmons25 yet to commit to working out for anyone, including Sixers & Lakers. Won't matter. Sixers very likely will take him No. 1
— NBA Big Board (@chadfordinsider) June 1, 2016
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Ford went on to reveal that Simmons has “yet to commit to working out for anyone, including Sixers & Lakers,” but more so, that at the end of the day it “won’t matter” because the “Sixers very likely will take him No. 1.”
Mock Drafts are one thing, but recent reports seem to support Ford’s claims. That would mean Duke’s Brandon Ingram would fall into the laps of the Los Angeles Lakers, who seems to be the better fit anyways.
If the Philadelphia 76ers end up drafting Simmons number one overall, it will be interesting to see what they do in regards to their log jam at the center position, and more so, if they’re able to put Simmons in a position to fully actualize his potential.
Next: Brandon Ingram Workout Clip via Adrian Wojnarowski
There will certainly be more pre-draft workout coverage with the draft rapidly approaching so make sure to check in frequently for updates on all of the NBA Draft prospects.