LC
Years ago
Ben Simmons' illustrious high school career is coming to an end.
PnR's Olgun Uluc caught up with Simmons in Chicago this week to talk about the McDonald’s All American game, Montverde Academy, his aspirations for LSU, and lastly, his future with the Australian national team.
The Australian All American: Ben Simmons talks Montverde, LSU and Australian Boomers
MACDUB
Years ago
Saw an ESPN segment about it. Is it just me or does the American media try to hide the fact that he is Australian?
Gordon Liddy
Years ago
No, they just don't care as much about him being Australian as you do.
MACDUB
Years ago
Gordon Liddy,
I am a Kiwi so why would I care about him been Australian. Assuming is risky business mate.
I'm just comparing him to Steve Adams who everyone knew was a Kiwi and the US media "sold" him on that basis.
It just seems the US don't want to do that in this situation given Simmons in no.1 big dog and they can't handle having an "overseas player" as the face of their high school/college game.
Just because they don't mention it all the time, doesn't mean they're trying to hide it. The kid is the #1 high school player in the world, there are plenty of other things they're talking about (To put it in perspective, Jaylen Brown is the #2 player and you don't hear them mentioning all the time that's he from Georgia.)
Adam was sold on being from NZ because that was his sell. Not that he's not a great player, but the fact that he's from NZ is the most interesting thing about him. Simmons' sell is his ability.
GWB
Years ago
I don't think it will be like that when he is in the NBA. In almost every Aussie highlight, the commentators invariably say. "That shot hit by Joe Ingles, the Australian native"
Ben Simmons will be the greatest australian of all time.
Flinders80
Years ago
is there any chance that Simmons never plays for LSU, ie goes in this upcoming draft? It's interesting that I can't think of any talk around it but they rate him as the best high school player
Latrentis
Years ago
He can't go straight from High school to the nba. Plus his buddy Antonio Blakeney will be joining him at LSU next season, should be fun to watch.
LC
Years ago
And Aussie 7-footer Darcy Malone is on the LSU team too :)
Gordon Liddy
Years ago
MACDUB,
Assuming is a dangerous business. It's one dangerous, dangerous business. You're not wrong there mate. It's rife with danger. Rife.
Wait, what are we talking about again?
Gordon Liddy is a repeat offender aussie player hate. used to say delly and ingles would never make the nba.
Lsu looking real good if they get Newman and some descent bigs.
A. Bitoni Fan
Years ago
Hypothetically speaking, where would Simmons go if he were eligible for the upcoming NBA Draft?
^ He could go in the top 10. He's a lock for top 3 in the 2016 Draft
Apathetic or not, you are missing the mark on your predictions. Delly and Joe doing their thing.
Anon
Years ago
If it's apathy then why do you bother commenting here?
Number 3
Years ago
If Simmons was in the upcoming draft, he would be number 3.
Princess Audrey
Years ago
I think that in time Simmons could be as good as Cam Gliddon
Gordon Liddy
Years ago
Anon, because I find the obbsession with these Australian players on this site quite entertaining and amusing.
shootingblanks
Years ago
Front page article on Sports Illustrated a couple days ago about Simmons:
"Only a matter of time until Australia's Ben Simmons is starring in the NBA"
http://www.si.com/nba/2015/04/02/ben-simmons-australia-mcdonalds-lsu-dante-exum
Gordon Liddy,
I am a Kiwi so why would I care about him been Australian. Assuming is risky business mate.
I'm just comparing him to Steve Adams who everyone knew was a Kiwi and the US media "sold" him on that basis.
It just seems the US don't want to do that in this situation given Simmons in no.1 big dog and they can't handle having an "overseas player" as the face of their high school/college game.
.. the difference is Adams was a full Kiwi whereas Simmons is technically American as well as Australian
" the difference is Adams was a full Kiwi whereas Simmons is technically American as well as Australian"
By that logic though Adams isn't "technically" a "full Kiwi", but rather English and Tongan. But in any case we shouldn't get so proprietary with how we describe players and their nationalities.
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