At media day, Ben Simmons said that he wants to be the best defender on the Philadelphia 76ers this season.
76ers head coach Brett Brown took it a step further in a conversation with Keith Pompey of The Philadelphia Inquirer this week.
“It’s hugely important and we understand it, especially [during the postseason] in April, May and June,” Brown said of Simmons shooting more 3s this season. "We have to set the stage.
“But my center point, where I see the world with him, is I think he can be the best defensive player in the NBA.”
Pompey added that Brown believes Simmons can make an All-Defensive Team. While Simmons received only two votes for the All-Defensive Second Team last season — the same amount as Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell and less than his former teammate Jimmy Butler — he showcased his potential on that end of the floor all season long, proving to be one of the most versatile defenders in the league.
In the playoffs, for example, Simmons played a key role in slowing point guard D'Angelo Russell in the first round. He then did about as good of a job as anyone could be expected on small forward Kawhi Leonard in the second round, even though NBA.com's matchup data doesn't quite reflect it.
Simmons also spent time guarding LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis and Russell Westbrook throughout the regular season to varying degrees of success.
Assuming that's a sign of what's to come for Simmons, Brown has good reason to believe in the Aussie star as an All-NBA type of defender. And who knows, maybe one day he will be recognized as one of the best defenders in the league.
