Simmons: My legs were shaking after going No. 1
NEW YORK - Ben Simmons went from Down Under to the top of the NBA draft, and a record number of international players followed.
The Philadelphia 76ers took the Australian with the No. 1 pick on Thursday night, making him the first of a record 14 international players chosen in the first round.
Simmons climbed on stage to the sound of cheers from a Philly-filled crowd hoping he could turn around the 76ers.
''It feels amazing, honestly,'' Simmons said. ''I can't even - my legs were shaking when I was on stage.''
Philadelphia grabbed the versatile 6-foot-10 forward from LSU who averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists to become the only player in Southeastern Conference history to finish in the top five in all three categories.
"We feel like we've dramatically improved our basketball team, and the outlook for the future," Sixers President of Basketball Operations Bryan Colangelo said.
He comes with some questions - he made only one 3-pointer - but too much potential for the 76ers to pass up with their first No. 1 pick since taking Allen Iverson 20 years ago.
"Ben's going to improve everything across the board, including the bottom line," said Colangelo. "He's a star figure in his own right at this age. If he does the things that are required from a basketball standpoint to continue to improve, the sky's the limit for him. Basketball, business, everything is being affected in a positive way."
The last No. 1 pick from LSU was Shaquille O'Neal - who will be enshrined in the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame along with Iverson in September.
"I always want to be the best player," Simmons said. "They selected me at one, so it means a lot. They believed in what I can bring to franchise."