Simmons: Being with 76ers is 'pretty perfect'

In recent years, it's been rare to hear players extol the virtues of the Philadelphia 76ers franchise. More often, they've been searching for ways to avoid playing there.

Not so for this year's No. 1 overall pick, Ben Simmons, who says Philadelphia is just where he belongs.

"It is pretty perfect," Simmons said after wrapping up Las Vegas Summer League on Friday, according to ESPN's Ohm Youngmisuk. "I could not be in a better situation."

Simmons wasn't just referring to the particulars of the Sixers' basketball situation, which should allow him to be the lead dog from day one. He's also happy to reconnect with old acquaintances Jahlil Okafor and Joel Embiid, who attended summer league as spectators but did not participate (each is recovering from surgery).

"I've known them since 10th grade so we have had that chemistry for a while," Simmons said. "As soon as we hit the court, hopefully it is the same. I am looking forward to playing with them."

As for the teammates he has had a chance to play with, Simmons is encouraged by the progress he's seen since the start of Utah Summer League at the beginning of the month.

"I've learned everyone's game pretty well over the past two weeks," he said. "We have grown a lot from Utah to here."​

Simmons, a Melbourne, Australia native, is also well-acquainted with Sixers head coach Brett Brown, who coached his father for five seasons in Australia's National Basketball League.

Across four games in Las Vegas, Simmons stuffed the stat sheet with averages of 12.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 5.5 assists, and 1.5 steals. However, he also turned the ball over 5.2 times a game, and shot under 41 percent from the field.

"I think I played pretty well overall," he said. "A lot of learning and growing to do, and that comes with it. I am looking forward to getting to Philly and getting started."