LeBron's advice to Simmons: Don't worry about the critics

Being a Klutch Sports client has its privileges. For one, you'll have the world's best player in your corner.

Philadelphia 76ers phenom Ben Simmons, a client of Rich Paul, told the New York Times that he got some advice from LeBron James before he took the first step in what's shaping up to be a promising career.

"I've learned a lot just being around LeBron," Simmons said. "People say things about him all the time, but he would never say anything back. That's what I learned from him: Don't retaliate to articles or pieces or to things that are said about me."

Having been unfairly cast as the biggest villain in sports following "The Decision," James is definitely no stranger to scrutiny. And to the King's credit, he didn't allow outside forces to affect his career as he went on to win three championships.

Simmons won't carry the same weight as James once did with the task of erasing a city's 52-year title drought. But having tanked for three seasons, Simmons represents the hopes and dreams of a tortured Sixers franchise that badly needs a savior.

And should Simmons fall short, he'll definitely hear it from the fan base, so it's good that James warned him.