Ben Simmons has been heavily criticized for his jump shot ever since his NBA career started. The Philadelphia 76ers star has had enough of that and he’s working on his game, trying to improve his jumper.
During the season, he managed to make two 3-pointers, which raised the expectations to the sky; however, he never attempted more triples and picked an injury, spending a lot of time off the court.
Now he’s finally back with the team and has expressed his desire to become better from deep. Head coach Brett Brown and his teammates have encouraged Simmons to try more 3-pointers and he’s claimed he’ll do it at the bubble. He went through a process that required a lot, according to ESPN’s Jackie MacMullan.
She explained that the Aussie point guard had to seek help from a sports psychologist so he could start improving his jumper and have steady numbers from beyond the arc.
Simmons agreed to work with a sports psychologist, while Sixers personnel, friends and teammates have tried — and failed — to instill the necessary impudence to get him over the hump.
“I know it’s going to come,” Simmons says. “It’s a matter of me being comfortable doing it. Some of that is getting the reps in. I can take a hook shot from the elbow, because I’ve done it so many times, I’m confident it will go in. It’s second nature.
“With 3s, it’s never been like that. I’ve got to make it a point of emphasis. I could be one of those guys shooting 30% right now. But I’d rather be one of those guys shooting 40%.”
He’s looking for excellence, he’s not trying to be a guy who barely tries, he wants to exceed from beyond the arc. If he manages to do so, the Sixers will be the dangerous team that everybody expected them to be before the start of the season. He has the height, he has the handles, he can pass, he can rebound and more. If he improves his jumper, Simmons has everything to be one of the best players in the NBA.
