How Ben Simmons Is Setting Himself Up for Success
Ben Simmons is already the offensive engine who makes the title-contending Philadelphia 76ers go, but there's more to the reigning NBA Rookie of the Year than what he can offer on the basketball court. He’s already been nicknamed the Young King by none other than the King himself, LeBron James. And he’s already inspired a TV sitcom (Brotherly Love, which will be coproduced by James and eventually land on NBC).
@johnelliottco #NYFW Some serious heat going on right here 👟🔥
A post shared by Benjamin Simmons (@bensimmons) on Sep 7, 2018 at 10:39am PDT
He took another step into the celebrity stratosphere when news broke that he's reportedly dating Instagram royalty Kendall Jenner, the ultra-successful model and younger half-sister of Kim Kardashian. The unconfirmed relationship wasn't a huge hit with 76ers fans, 10,000 of whom petitioned to ban Jenner from future games after she was spotted cheering Simmons in a rare loss to the bottom-dwelling Cleveland Cavaliers-but 76ers co-owner Michael Rubin supports the relationship and insists Jenner is a good influence on the young star.
Did we mention, again, that Simmons is only in his second year in the NBA?
Great, right? Except that’s not nearly enough for the six-foot-ten Aussie. When Simmons mapped out his NBA future years ago (yes, really), the now-22-year-old had “NBA title” at the top of the list. And he can’t stop repeating that, both in this interview with Men's Health Australia and to his teammates. Says Sixers head coach Brett Brown: “He sees his future quite clearly.”
Learn from his mind-set and you’ll set yourself up for long-term success, too. No promises on being able to link up with a Kardashian, though.
Look to Next Season (And the Season After That, And...)
Even before Simmons was on NBA-prospect leaderboards, he was pondering his professional legacy. Once he reached high school, he mused to his older half-brother, Sean, not about the start of his NBA career but about its golden years.
“He’s always thinking down the track. He’s thinking championship,” says Sean. “That’s what you get judged on at the end of your career.”
Envision yourself in your final years on the job, not at the very beginning. It’s the only way you can truly set a long-range goal, and it’s your best chance to chase lofty expectations. “You’ve got to set the bar high,” says Simmons. “Unless you reach high, you’re not going to get high. That’s the way I’ve thought since I was in high school.”
You'll Need Help, So Let Others Help You
Simmons’s father, Dave, played for the Melbourne Tigers in Australia’s National Basketball League, and he introduced his son to the sport when he was barely out of diapers. Go deep enough down the Ben Simmons YouTube wormhole and you just might find video of a pint-sized Simmons dribbling between his dad’s legs and dunking on a kid-sized hoop.
A post shared by Benjamin Simmons (@bensimmons) on Sep 13, 2018 at 2:23pm PDT
But Dave wasn’t the one coaxing Ben out of bed to work out most mornings. It was a teenage Simmons who woke Dad up to train him. “He was the one who made me get up early and put the work in,” says Dave, “and he was always letting me know that it’s not going to be easy. It was going to be hard work. But it was all going to be worth it.
Deny, Deny Deny-But Only Publicly
The moment Simmons entered the NBA, he received heavy criticism for his “shaky” jump shot, and some have suggested that Simmons, a left-hander, should shoot his jumpers with his right hand. And why not? After all, he made just 56 percent of his free throws, and he didn’t hit a single three-pointer all year.
It’s the one criticism that makes Simmons bristle. “People like to make shit up. Maybe I’m writing with the wrong hand, too?” he says. “I averaged 16 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists per game last year. Guys haven’t done that their whole careers. I think I’m playing well.”
Not well enough to stop fixing his jumper, though. He’s working on it, says Brown. “And when he grows his shot, he becomes unguardable.” LeBron is going to love that.
Score Some NBA Muscle
Build a pro basketball-worthy body by doing high-rep sets of fundamental exercises
in this three-times-a-week workout from Simmons’s trainer, Michael Atkinson.
A post shared by Benjamin Simmons (@bensimmons) on Sep 17, 2018 at 2:06pm PDT
1. 45-Degree Incline Leg Press
5 sets (20 reps the first set, 15 the next, 15, 12, 12)
In a loaded leg-press machine, lower the weight until your knees almost reach your chest before pushing explosively back
to the starting position. That’s 1 rep.
2. Neutral-Grip Incline Dumbbell Press
5 sets (20, 12, 10, 8, 8)
Set up on an adjustable bench at a 30-degree incline, holding dumbbells directly over your chest, arms straight, palms facing each other. Bend your elbows, lowering the weights until they nearly touch your chest, pause, then straighten your arms. That’s 1 rep.
3. Close-Grip Lat Pulldown
5 sets (20, 12, 10, 8, 8)
Set up in a lat-pulldown station and grasp the bar overhead with your arms slightly narrower than shoulder width. Tighten your core (think of pulling your rib cage down) and pull the bar to your upper chest. Pause, then return the bar to the start. That’s 1 rep.
4. Seated Row
5 sets (20, 12, 10, 8, 8)
Sit at a row station, bend your knees slightly, and grasp the row handle. Tighten your core and, without moving your torso, pull the handle to the top of your rib cage. Hold for a moment, squeezing your back, then return to the start. That’s 1 rep.
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