Ben Simmons Rumors
All NBA Players
Position: F
Born: 07/20/96
Height: 6-10 / 2.08
Weight:240 lbs. / 108.9 kg.
Salary: $30,559,200
Born: 07/20/96
Height: 6-10 / 2.08
Weight:240 lbs. / 108.9 kg.
Salary: $30,559,200
Ben Simmons: I'm the Defensive Player of the Year, I'm not even questioning it, I know I am
The one thing you’ve been saying to the press consistently this year is: “I’m the Defensive Player of the Year!” What has sparked that in you? Because we don’t often hear you make a claim like that so frequently. Ben Simmons: It’s the same with people all around me. I tell them all the time, “Yo! I’m Defensive Player of the Year.” I’m not even questioning it right now. I know I am. That’s a fact. And numbers, certain stats, are cool with certain players. But, at the end of the day, you know….The example would be last night. I was supposed to guard [Kevin Durant]. We match up well size wise. KD’s out. The next person I’m guarding is Kyrie [Irving]. Like, who’s doing that? It’s not many players who are doing that. And to be doing it at a high level like that? I don’t think there’s anybody else really doing that. I mean, Kawhi [Leonard] when he was really playing defense like that, of course. But, it’s not too many guys.
Didn’t Kyrie Irving have, like, 37 last night though? Ben Simmons: Yeah, but we won. His plus/minus was negative, too [it was -13].
Ben Simmons: The Sixers will win the championship, I genuinely believe that
To do what? Y’all gonna win the championship? Ben Simmons: Win the championship. I genuinely believe that. I feel like there’s been years where guys would’ve said it on the Sixers, but I don’t think we really believed it. But, I genuinely think this is the year.
Is that how you explain your approach to the season, Ben? Has that mindset changed in terms of your overall numbers? Is it just doing whatever it takes to get wins from now on? Ben Simmons: It’s do whatever it takes. If we win a championship, that’s our goal, nobody’s worried about numbers. Nobody is worried about numbers. In past years guys have been worried about certain numbers and stats, things like that. But, if I’m able to make game-winning plays, diving on a loose ball, getting deflections, being where my teammates need me to be, I feel like that’s how you win championships. If you are an individual and you are worried about stats? You are in the wrong place. And that tends to be teams that aren’t doing that well.
What about the in between? Because an easy criticism of that is saying that you can want both. You’ve scored around 10 points a game this month. But, y’all are winning. What if you were scoring 18 and you were winning? Ben Simmons: What if I’m scoring 20 and we’re losing? You can look at it both ways. You can look at it both ways, but we are winning. If we’re winning, you really can’t say anything. As long as I’m doing my job….
Who’s your favorite matchup in the league? Ben Simmons: Boston. They’ve had our number for a while and being able to win—what we got? Three up on them? You always wanna get back at a team that’s gotten you a few times. What about a player? Ben Simmons: I don’t really think there’s one player I like going against. But, I like playing against Luka [Doncic], guys like that. Guys that have all that buzz going on right now. Bron, KD, I’m looking forward to playing against Steph, hopefully he’s playing.
