Who would you choose: Devin Booker or Ben Simmons?
Let’s revisit last week for a minute. While on furlough, I watched ESPN’s First Take cap its NBA primetime players list Friday with LeBron James ranked No. 1 according to the network panel of experts.
1 LeBron James
2 Giannis Antetokounmpo
3 Kevin Durant
4 Kawhi Leonard
5 Stephen Curry
6 James Harden
7 Anthony Davis
8 Luka Doncic
9 Damian Lillard
10 Nikola Jokic
11 Joel Embiid
12 Russell Westbrook
13 Paul George
14 Kyrie Irving
15 Jimmy Butler
So, no Devin Booker huh? He probably shouldn’t be on this list, either, as every player on it has made the playoffs with James, Durant, Leonard and Curry winning multiple NBA titles, but when asked to name the best player left off the list, First Take’s Max Kellerman said Philadelphia 76ers all-star Ben Simmons.
“Everyone is so wrapped up with what Ben Simmons can’t do, which is obviously shoot,” Kellerman said. “He can’t shoot. He won’t even try. That’s the reason he’s not in contention for the MVP every year.”
So, Simmons is better than Booker despite averaging just 16.4 points a game in his three NBA seasons and shooting just 2-of-23 from 3.
He’s only a 59.4% shooter from the line.
So not only is Simmons averaging less than 20 points a game, he won’t take 3s (six attempts in 54 games this season) and is a liability at the line.
Now as Kellerman later said, Simmons can do everything else at a high level.
Defend multiple positions. Defend period. Rebound. Pass.
Has amazing size, strength, speed and athleticism in a 6-10, 240-pound frame.
Truth be told, it’d be unfair if Simmons could shoot from beyond the paint, but Booker doesn’t have that problem.
Averaging 22.3 points over his five NBA seasons, Booker has averaged 26 points in each of his last two seasons. He’s shooting nearly 50% from the field this season (career-best 48.7), 36% from 3 (126-350) and a careerbest 91.6% from the free throw line in becoming an all-star for the first time.
He doesn’t give you the boards, assists and defense like Simmons, but Booker has been more competitive on the defensive end this season.
The next step for him is to play smarter defense.
So, this debate may come down to what you want in a player as opposed to how good the player is.
Simmons is a better overall talent, but Booker is the better offensive player.
There’s a case for both, but Domonique Foxworth, a former NFL player who works for ESPN, named Toronto all-star Pascal Siakam as the best player left off the list.
Hmmmm.
Siakam has a ring.
Booker and Simmons don’t.
Siakam is having a career year in averaging 23.6 points on 45.9% shooting this season. He’s shooting 35.9% from 3, 80% from the line and has stepped up to become to go-player for the defending NBA champions, who are second in the East.
That’s the definition of a primetime player.
The guy is 6-9, 230 and a major matchup problem. Put a smaller guy on him, he’ll shoot over the top.
A bigger guy? Oh, Siakam is going around him.
He’s not a liability from the line, either, and has some defense to go with his versatile offensive skills.
So, let’s say we’re picking the next 10 after this top 15 list.
Simmons, Booker and Siakam would all make that list, but where? 1 Pascal Siakam
2 Jayson Tatum
3 Ben Simmons
4 Donovan Mitchell
5 Devin Booker
6 Bradley Beal
7 Trae Young
8 Kemba Walker
9 Rudy Gobert
10 Nikola Vucevic