When Russell Westbrook averaged a triple-double during his MVP campaign, it was unheard of. Breaking the single-season record for triple-doubles in a season in the same season, a record that stood for 55 years? Even more impressive. The most impressive part of it? His supporting cast, or lack thereof.
In the 2016-17 NBA season, the Oklahoma City Thunder ranked 30th in the league in team three-point percentage (32.7%). The fifth-best three-point shooter was Joffrey Lauvergne (34.6%).
The next season the Thunder improved as a team to rank 24th league-wide in 3P%, converting 35.4% of their attempts. Unfortunately, their third-best three-point shooter was Carmelo Anthony (35.7%).
But what if someone else did it? Averaged a triple-double?
Enter: Ben Simmons.
So far in his young career, Simmons holds career averages of 15.8 points, 8.3 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game. Through the young NBA season, Simmons is averaging 16.0 points, 14.0 rebounds and 9.5 assists per game. Considering that only three games have been played so far, and only two players cleared 14.0 rebounds per game, it’s likely safe to say that Simmons won’t be among the league’s leader in rebounds per game.
It’s not crazy to say he could be among the league’s leader in points and assists.
Getting a triple-double in a game is hard. Players like the aforementioned Westbrook and other current greats like LeBron James make it look easy, but it’s a tall task. Luckily, Ben Simmons is 6’10” and plays point guard.
Last season, Simmons didn’t score in double digits in only nine of the 81 games he played in.
In 2017-18, Simmons had 26 games where he had 10 or more assists, another nine where he had 9, and 10 where he had eight. Put differently, Simmons had 45 games where he had at least eight assists in a game, and that was before the Sixers went out and acquired Mike Muscala (career 37.8% 3-point shooter), Wilson Chandler (coming off a 35.8 3P% season in Denver), Zhaire Smith (45.0% shooter from deep in his freshman season at Texas Tech) and Landry Shamet (career 43.7 3P% on an average of 5.1 attempts per game at Wichita State).
That’s not to say that guys like JJ Redick, Joel Embiid, or Robert Covington aren’t enough to help Simmons get a triple-double. However, adding more shooting threats certainly doesn’t hurt. Speaking of…
(This isn’t where shots are taken at Ben Simmons.)
Ben Simmons isn’t a shooting threat. That’s not a slight. Lots of all-time greats (past and present) have had long careers without adding a three-point shot to their arsenal. Simmons may never really need to.
JJ Redick is 34 years old, and just a season after making 70 starts for the historic franchise, is coming off the bench. In his place is Markelle Fultz, age 20. Rounding out the starting five are Joel Embiid (24), Dario Saric (24), and Robert Covington (27, the oldest member of the starting five). All of the aforementioned players have the ability to stretch the floor, which opens up the paint, where Simmons can thrive.
Simmons has a high basketball IQ that’s been compared to Hall of Fame point guard Magic Johnson and appreciated by current Laker LeBron James. Three is worth more than two, but making five field goals is more valuable than hitting two threes a game.
He may develop a three-point shot some time in his career and Sixers fans would rejoice everywhere. If he never does, that’s okay too.