From what I have seen of Simmons I don't necessarily disagree with Bayless's comments - I think he is pretty accurate actually.

Simmons made an interesting choice to go to LSU to be honest. He chose it because of the assistant coach and family and all that, but geez, they're a weak team (less weak now that some guys have returned from injury).

Simmons is forced to do everything, so he's not learning structure or skills it's just "give Simmons the ball and hope he can do something that will win the game for us".

He doesn't really have that uber aggressive MJ/Kobe killer instinct, he's a bit timid, but that doesn't mean he can't be a destroyer. He just needs to look at Tim Duncan as a role model. To be fair, he does make a few aggressive moves every now and then, he just needs to be more demanding and endeavor to take the game over more than he does. There's no doubt this kid has some serious talent and in the right team with the right mindset, he can be an absolute destroyer.

I agree with the comments, but don't know if it's because he's still young or trying to avoid injury or it's his natural attitude or what.
If only he would take more outside shots! He's shown that he can hit the mid-range jumpers.

It looks like a pretty fair assessment to me too. He couldn't have really been rated more highly by many people early in this college season, and the results LSU have put up wouldn't be helping anything.

As KET said, he's not learning much either. He can make it look so easy against some opposition at college level, and then hasn't been able to really take over when his team has needed him to.

He's clearly still an amazing prospect, so no need to be too critical either.

His skill, athleticism and general ability is IMO NOT overrated. He is skilled, athletic and has serious ability in all the major aspects of the sport.

I do however agree with Bayless' references to his lack of killer instinct and motor. But i don't think it's because of a lack of passion.

But yes, he does go into periods of extreme passiveness, almost happy to be a passenger and pass the ball around the perimeter.

Again, how much you want to read into this is up to you. It could be something as simple as a lack of fitness (have to remember he is literally doing sometimes 5 guys jobs..some sequences he does just about everything).

Agree 100 per cent with those two. I watched the Alabama game yesterday and jesus... passing up wide open layups at critical junctures of the game. And it's not like the guys he passed to were in any better attacking positions.

I make a habit of watching LSU games but I'm getting more and more discouraged by the crap he's dishing up

These guys are like many media people, so subjective, who sit back and try to make themselves more important by being critical of others.

The guy is 19 and has shown the potential to do what very few college players have done this season and his statistics are among the best in NCAA history.

He is unselfish and yes, he is in a team that isn't the strongest so he is isolated at times and some times even looks a little like LeBron James the way he winds up from outside the key, then penetrates to the rack.

He is very much still learning the game and his personality is one that suggests he is more a relaxed and naturally gifted talent, rather than the rah rah and insanely intense type.

So, Ben is Ben, get off his case and watch him as his career blossoms, I am willing to bet it will be a ride worth taking...

Watching his game it is clear to see that he is supremely talented, but he never seems to get out of first or second gear. He was surely be a very good NBA player, but I have the same questions whether he will be a player you can build a franchise around.

Just want to add this, I would also love to see him take some more long and medium length shots.

I agree with this in the article and am sure his coach encourages it, but for whatever reason it isn't apparently on the radar as much as we would like, yet!

Interesting point on his jump shot. It's hard to tell where it's at with developing his jumper as he rarely goes to it.

It may come from being a pass first player..I've only seen a few of his games but to me he looks to create/involve others through passing on the perimeter a lot, probably giving up jump shots to do so. He looks like he expects sometimes to receive the ball a bit more when he gets in position on the inside , doesn't always happen in this team.

I agree that he is overrated.
To me that's much more a statement about the people rating him than it is about Simmons though.
I'd love nothing more than the overrated tag to catch on so that he drops down the draft list. I wouldn't wish the pressure associated with being touted as "the next LeBron" on anyone.

One thing worth noting is that the LSU guards cannot throw an entry pass to save their lives. Ben's good post position goes to waste two out of every three post-ups. Being able to generally move the ball around the perimeter would help free up Simmons too, but they just suck at it. All their heavy-minute guards are scorers/shooters only.

I think Ben Simmons will be about as good as Bobby Simmons honestly.

I don't think the media hype will affect Simmons too much to be honest. It doesn't appear to bother him at all and he isn't stuffing up or fumbling or choking or struggling, he is playing highly impressively just without the kind of killer instinct and impetus which people are demanding of the 19 year old. This supports the point above of it's more about people putting these crazy expectations on him oppose to him not being great. Will he be a franchise altering superstar? Probably/likely. Will he be the next LeBron or Durant? Maybe not quite.

If Ben Simmons is the next LBJ then Brandon Ingram is the next KD!

Ingram is a better all-round player than Simmons - in every facet of the game - and deserves to be the No.1 draft pick.

If you have any doubts about that then I suggest you watch the recent Duke vs. Virginia game from last weekend!

Once Ingram bulks up - forget about it!!!