NBA Draft: Ranking the last 25 first overall picks

It is probably safe to say that Ben Simmons has started developing into one of the more unique players in the NBA. Simmons came into the league as a 6-foot-10 forward, but has been asked to take up point guard duties for the Philadelphia 76ers, a role he has excelled in for the past two seasons.

Entering the 2016 NBA Draft, Simmons’ attitude was questioned after many felt he didn’t put in the effort necessary to help the LSU Tigers reach their potential. His attitude pre-draft further pushed the narrative, but this didn’t prevent him from being drafted by the 76ers with the No. 1 pick.

A training camp injury would kill Simmons’ draft year, but he traveled and practiced with the 76ers, setting himself up for a fantastic rookie season the following year.

His NBA Rookie of the Year award came under some criticism, as he was a second-year player playing his first season in the NBA. However, the criticism of the NBA rule defining rookies was not enough to push him out of contention.

This season, Simmons was part of a strong roster in Philadelphia that took the Toronto Raptors to seven games before falling to a buzzer beater by Kawhi Leonard. His skillset has come under extreme scrutiny this year, with people ignoring his defensive acumen and focusing on his lack of a jump shot.

With Joel Embiid taking on the role as the leader of the 76ers, and Jimmy Butler joining the roster, Simmons is set to be a top-three option on a NBA Championship contender for years to come.

Career averages: 16.4 points, 8.5 rebounds, 7.7 assists, 1.4 steals per game