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Ben Simmons, already looking ahead to next season as the Philadelphia 76ers' starting point guard, is excited about the team's new additions. The 6-foot-10 Simmons said he has bought into head coach Brett Brown's vision for the 2017-18 season, even though he would be one of the tallest players to ever play point guard in the NBA.
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"I think you can move me anywhere. But I'm a starting point guard," Simmons, the No. 1 overall pick in last season's draft, told reporters in Las Vegas on Sunday night while watching the NBA Summer League games.
Brown announced in December that he planned to use Simmons at point guard and in April stood firm with his decision, although he doesn't envision Simmons guarding the opposing team's point guard during games.
Sixers 6-5 guard Markelle Fultz, the No. 1 overall pick in last month's draft, is seen as a shooting guard by Brown to complement Simmons in the backcourt.
"We're excited to use him as the primary ball carrier," Brown said of Simmons after drafting Fultz.
Simmons, who missed his entire rookie season after fracturing the fifth metatarsal bone of his right foot in last year's training camp, was impressed by Fultz's play in the summer league before he sprained his ankle on Saturday night -- an injury that will sideline him for one to two weeks.
"I have no problem sharing the ball. He doesn't either," Simmons said. "Watching him play, he can share the ball."
Simmons played forward in his one season at LSU and Fultz played point guard at Washington during his one season with the University of Washington.
Simmons has been taking part in full-contact activity this offseason.
"I feel great," Simmons said Sunday after joining the Sixers to support the summer league squad.
