Hoops

Bayless and SAS: Ben Simmons 'definitely overrated'

If Ben Simmons is the next LBJ then Brandon Ingram is the next KD!

Ingram is a better all-round player than Simmons - in every facet of the game - and deserves to be the No.1 draft pick.

If you have any doubts about that then I suggest you watch the recent Duke vs. Virginia game from last weekend!

Once Ingram bulks up - forget about it!!!

I think Ben Simmons will be about as good as Bobby Simmons honestly.

I agree that he is overrated.
To me that's much more a statement about the people rating him than it is about Simmons though.
I'd love nothing more than the overrated tag to catch on so that he drops down the draft list. I wouldn't wish the pressure associated with being touted as "the next LeBron" on anyone.

Interesting point on his jump shot. It's hard to tell where it's at with developing his jumper as he rarely goes to it.

It may come from being a pass first player..I've only seen a few of his games but to me he looks to create/involve others through passing on the perimeter a lot, probably giving up jump shots to do so. He looks like he expects sometimes to receive the ball a bit more when he gets in position on the inside , doesn't always happen in this team.

Just want to add this, I would also love to see him take some more long and medium length shots.

I agree with this in the article and am sure his coach encourages it, but for whatever reason it isn't apparently on the radar as much as we would like, yet!

These guys are like many media people, so subjective, who sit back and try to make themselves more important by being critical of others.

The guy is 19 and has shown the potential to do what very few college players have done this season and his statistics are among the best in NCAA history.

He is unselfish and yes, he is in a team that isn't the strongest so he is isolated at times and some times even looks a little like LeBron James the way he winds up from outside the key, then penetrates to the rack.

He is very much still learning the game and his personality is one that suggests he is more a relaxed and naturally gifted talent, rather than the rah rah and insanely intense type.

So, Ben is Ben, get off his case and watch him as his career blossoms, I am willing to bet it will be a ride worth taking...

His skill, athleticism and general ability is IMO NOT overrated. He is skilled, athletic and has serious ability in all the major aspects of the sport.

I do however agree with Bayless' references to his lack of killer instinct and motor. But i don't think it's because of a lack of passion.

But yes, he does go into periods of extreme passiveness, almost happy to be a passenger and pass the ball around the perimeter.

Again, how much you want to read into this is up to you. It could be something as simple as a lack of fitness (have to remember he is literally doing sometimes 5 guys jobs..some sequences he does just about everything).

It looks like a pretty fair assessment to me too. He couldn't have really been rated more highly by many people early in this college season, and the results LSU have put up wouldn't be helping anything.

As KET said, he's not learning much either. He can make it look so easy against some opposition at college level, and then hasn't been able to really take over when his team has needed him to.

He's clearly still an amazing prospect, so no need to be too critical either.

I agree with the comments, but don't know if it's because he's still young or trying to avoid injury or it's his natural attitude or what.
If only he would take more outside shots! He's shown that he can hit the mid-range jumpers.