2031 NBN Hall of Fame Nominee - Ben Simmons

[Donny - Bucks]

As unique as he is in real life, Simmons produces quite similarly in the NBN. As one of the best rebounding guards the league has ever seen while also being a tremendous passer, great defender, and good scorer anywhere inside of the three point line. Will this be enough for him to get into the NBN Hall of Fame?

PLAYER PAGE - nothinbutnetleague.altervista.org/NothinButNet/Archive/2030/html/players/player215.htm



CAREER STATS
Games: 897
MPG: 36.9
PPG: 20.5
RPG: 7.2
APG: 5.5
SPG: 2.0
BPG: 0.5
TOPG: 2.3
FG%: .467
FT%: .660
3P%: .165

Best Season (2020 76ers)
Games: 82
MPG: 39.0
PPG: 24.7
RPG: 9.0
APG: 6.9
SPG: 2.1
BPG: 0.6
TOPG: 2.6
FG%: .491
FT%: .668
3P%: .264

Career Highs
Points: 47
Rebounds: 19
Assists: 18
Steals: 7
Blocks: 3

Achievements
Championships: 1
Player of the Game: 172
Player of the Week: 8
Player of the Month: 1
Double Doubles: 255
Triple Doubles: 31

Awards
2020 - Slam-Dunk Contest Champion
2020 - All-Star Game Participant
2020 - Sixth Man of the Year
2020 - All-League Third Team
2020 - All-Defensive Team
2021 - All-Star Game Participant
2022 - Slam-Dunk Contest Champion
2023 - Slam-Dunk Contest Champion
2023 - All-Defensive Team
2025 - All-Defensive Team
2026 - All-Defensive Second Team



Arguments For Induction
- Ya know, as a slashing point guard, Simmons had a terrific career. 46.7% from the field for his career even with being an abysmal shooter (154/934 for his career), likely the all-time leader for rebounds as a non-big, while also being a pretty good passer and ball handler.

- Three-time All-Defensive first team PG, three-time Slam-Dunk Contest Champion, an appearance on the All-League list, Sixth Man of the Year, two time All-Star Game participant... not a bad career. For someone who did a lot of different things, he ended up being a very quality player.

- In terms of triple doubles, Simmons is likely one of the most dynamically skilled guards/wings we've ever had in the league. Obviously, he provides a lot of different talents and is absolutely a positive player to have on your team, assuming it's in the right role. 255 double doubles, 172 POTG's, 8 POTW's, and a championship later, he's up here.

Arguments Against Induction
- Not a shooter. In any sense of the word. He may practically be the worst "high-end" guard in terms of shooting the ball ever. While it didn't really mess up his career trajectory and all that, it's a big negative.

- His role was scattered throughout his career. Some years he'd be able to shoot 1,600+ times, other years he'd be able to shoot 700ish times, and a lot of 900-1.1K years in there... 

- Simmons played for 8 teams and didn't have a stay longer than three years on any of them. Usually, Hall of Famers don't deal with an issue of being able to find a team to stick on.

Vote carefully, and remember to throw out arguments regardless of which side you're on. This should be a discussion that eventually gets the league to the proper decision on him. Your vote can also be retracted after it's been cast if you feel like switching to the other side based on the arguments that have been made. To be inducted, a player needs 70% and to be considered in a later class they need 50%. Vote carefully.

***BONUS - Don't forget that everyone who votes gets $100 and the person that makes the best argument or contributes to the discussion the best will be awarded an extra $100***

[vanimmer]

it is a no for me
He started out great but he wasn't good enough later on when the better point guards came into the league. He then was used mostly as a sf.
He hardly made an all league teams and only won the dunkcontests

[cheddar]

A little harder decision, but ended up going no. On and off All League type of player, wasn’t quite where you need a HOFer to be.

[ucfinfan86]

He scored more than I remembered but his best role was off the bench. It’s closer than I thought I’d be but voting no

[JCog72]

Close one here but I am going to say no

[yourkers15]

I said yes. He has such well rounded skills shows by his numbers. Even without a 3pt shot he was a 20 a game scorer. He has multiple all-star game appearances, all defensive teams and even an all league team. Add in a championship and being how he was a very productive player over his whole career I see him as hall worthy.

[afro]

Solid player but it’s a No for me 

[carlos]

I'm a no on Simmons. I like his game and think he's a valuable piece on any contender, but he doesn't have enough career accolades. I think a couple of more All-Star games or a higher All-League team would put him in, especially with his defensive team selections.

2 ASG selections and 1 All League 3rd team doesn't scream HOF worthy to me

[Charles]

I voted no, mainly because I think his best role would have been like a position swap to PF, then adept to be used as a backup PF/SF. Hopefully through camps / tc he would have increased his rebounding a bit more.
His lack of shooting would have been something I would have just never touched for my backcourt. Maybe you could have got away with him as your starting SF if you had a big capable of hitting 3s at a solid rate but then you’re kind of limiting your offensive potential. Was his defense and dunk contest appearances really worth that trade off?

Mar 27, 2021 12:12:56 GMT ucfinfan86 said:

He scored more than I remembered but his best role was off the bench. It’s closer than I thought I’d be but voting no

I agree with this, I didn’t think his avg ppg would be over 20.

[dash]

I would say yes because an amazing glue guy as a sixth man is HOF worthy in the same sense Manu Ginobili is in real life.

[Rog]

Voted no. Close as hell and I like Dash's argument for his induction but I don't quite think he has the same impact that Manu had and compared to the leave as a whole just isn't quite there. Very close, almost voted yes, but voted yes in the end.

[Donny - Bucks]

Honestly, I’m not sure. I think Simmons has a super unique skill set which makes this closer than it should. Voted no for now, but I could be swayed.

[carlos]

Mar 27, 2021 17:27:33 GMT dash said:

I would say yes because an amazing glue guy as a sixth man is HOF worthy in the same sense Manu Ginobili is in real life.

This is an interesting point but would be more compelling if he won more than 1 6MOTY imo. The best 6th man of the last couple of seasons has been Toppin who won 2 in a row and I think everyone would agree that he's not a HOF either.

If Simmons does get in, I think it's obviously as a Wizard for those 2 glorious pre season sims he spent here last season.

[frosty]

Im going to go no. His career looks better than i remember him being but i dont think he really had the impact that others did that are coming in soon. Theres going to be 5 or 6 PGs coming in that were better. I know he wasnt really a PG but when theres a good amount of guys at his listed position that were better its tough for me to vote yes. I had him at his peak and didnt love him during that time as well

[pjclippers]

Was a good sixth man and defender but I think you should be a difference maker if you are going to be a HOFer and I just don't think he moved the needle enough