No. 1 pick Ben Simmons raring to go in NBA summer league
SALT LAKE CITY – It appears that the contract delays for Ben Simmons and Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot were basically over before they really started.
The 76ers rookies arrived Saturday evening, signed their contracts that night, and participated Sunday in two summer league minicamp sessions at the University of Utah’s Huntsman Basketball Facility.
The pair missed two minicamp practices Saturday while the details of their contracts were being worked out. Although they’ve signed, details of the contracts have not been made public.
“It feels so good to be a part of a team and just being on the court,” Simmons said Sunday morning after practice. “This is the first time I played since my final game at LSU (on March 12). So I’m a little rusty, a few turnovers. So that’s all part of it.”
The first overall pick has been utilizing his time well since the late arrival. Simmons took time to meet some of the folks in the organization. He also spent time learning how to play with and fit in with his summer league team.
Most important, the 6-foot-10, 243-pounder was getting ready for the Utah Summer League opener Monday night against the Boston Celtics at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
Simmons will play Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday in Utah and then starting Saturday at the NBA Summer League in Las Vegas.
The native of Australia is determined to block out all the attention, which includes a much-anticipated matchup against the Los Angeles Lakers squad led by second overall pick Brandon Ingram on Saturday at UNLV.
“Going into the NBA, I’m not looking at rookies or anything,” Simmons said. “I’m looking at the top guys, like Bron (LeBron James) and KD (Kevin Durant). Those are the guys I have to be facing. So I have to get ready for them.
“I respect everybody. I don’t fear anyone. So going into every game, I’m willing to put in that work to win.“
Simmons said he isn’t sure how many summer league games he’ll play in, but he’s willing to play all of them.
One gets the sense that Luwawu-Cabarrot is willing to do the same.
”I’m just ready to play and happy to be here,“ said the swingman from France.
The No. 24 overall pick now can focus on his simple goal: to be the best at everything.
“If I can be the best defender of the league, I will be,“ he said. “If I can be the best rookie of the year, I will be. I will do everything on the court to be the best on the court and that’s it.“
Luwawu-Cabarrot had to get FIBA clearance and be bought out of his contract with the Serbian club Mega Leks before joining the team. That was taken care of last week.
Friday was the first day that Simmons was eligible to sign his contract. He was slotted to make $4.919 million as the first pick. The Sixers had said the holdup was certain language in the deal.