{"id":167999,"date":"2025-09-25T11:30:08","date_gmt":"2025-09-25T11:30:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/167999\/"},"modified":"2025-09-25T11:30:08","modified_gmt":"2025-09-25T11:30:08","slug":"simmons-would-absolutely-not-dominate-nbl","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/167999\/","title":{"rendered":"Simmons would ‘absolutely not’ dominate NBL"},"content":{"rendered":"

The suggestion that Ben Simmons would “dominate” in the NBL is disrespectful, according to former NBA player and NBL great Chris Anstey.\u200d<\/p>\n

The three-time NBL champion and two-time NBL MVP winner’s comments come off the back of NBL expert Damon Lowery’s declaration that the three-time NBA All Star would be unstoppable in the Australian league.\u200d<\/p>\n

\u201cWould he [Simmons] dominate, absolutely not – I think that\u2019s disrespectful to so many players in this league, who are able to score the ball in a multitude of ways,\u201c two-time Olympian Anstey said during Wednesday\u2019s episode of NBL Now<\/a>.<\/p>\n

“He\u2019s a very big guard who can handle the ball or a very small big, but I\u2019m unsure if he\u2019d want to come and do that – [not to mention] he can\u2019t shoot the ball and would get fouled a lot.”<\/p>\n

After being drafted with the first overall pick by Philadelphia in the 2016 NBA Draft, the Melbourne-born 29-year-old has played 422 games during his time in the NBA, which also includes stints with the Brooklyn Nets and Los Angeles Clippers.<\/p>\n

The LSU alum, who recently squashed talk of retirement, is currently a free agent.<\/p>\n

The League\u2019s Owner and Executive Director, Larry Kestelman, said the former No.1 NBA draft pick was \u201ctoo good a talent not to be playing basketball\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll reach out to Ben and I\u2019d love to have a chat to him because I believe he is someone who we (the NBL) want to put our arms around,\u201d Kestelman told CODE Sports.<\/a><\/p>\n

\u201cI hope he comes and plays for the passion of it and a deal in the NBL is somewhere where his passion could be reignited.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u200d<\/p>\n

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