After sitting out the entirety of the 2016-17 season, 2016 no. 1 overall pick Ben Simmons retains his rookie eligibility heading into the 2017-18 season. Yet, Simmons has his sights set on higher goals than Rookie of the Year. From ESPN’s Niall Seewang:
“My goal is to be the best in the league,” he told ESPN. “I’m not worried about other rookies — I’m worried about the guys at the top, and that’s where I want to be.”
Simmons has reportedly been fully cleared to resume basketball activities.
Simmons, feeling healthy, wants to lead his team to the playoffs; they haven’t been there since the 2011-12 season, when they had Jrue Holiday, Lou Williams, Evan Turner, Andre Iguodala and Thaddeus Young on the roster:
“Physically I feel really good. [I am] ready to play and get the season started,” he said. “I’ve just got to go out and work hard … and if everyone in the team does the same thing, I think we can do great things.
“Our goal is to get there [to the playoffs] and win. We don’t doubt each other, as long as we work hard we might [be able to].
“Joel [Embiid] is doing well. I actually worked out with him before I came to Australia so I know he’s been working hard every day.
“We have a great young team. … I think we can do some great things, I’m looking forward to heading back to Philly.”
