Simmons is no Lebron. Ingram is no Durant. Then?

[Tr1boy]

Lebrons "alpha dog" quality is something Simmons lack.  Ingram just doesn't move as well/explosive as Durant. Durant's first step to the basket is exceptional. While Ingram struggles at times to turn the corner

Who does Simmons compare to? Ingram compare to?  Then..

[i believe in brad]

My prediction is Simmons develops a midrange jumper and becomes a super-duper version of PG Evan Turner with better passing.

[Tr1boy]

My prediction is Simmons develops a midrange jumper and becomes a super-duper version of PG Evan Turner with better passing.

Interesting

What about a more explosive Boris Diaw?

[walker834]

It's funny i just went and watched lebron highlights from highschool and totally different personalities.  Simmons doesnt appear to have one.  He reminds me of Tim Duncan if Tim Duncan were playing guard though at least personality wise.  As far as his game. It's unique. There has never been anyone his size who can handle the ball like that outside of magic johnson.  He's like Magic if he played more like Timmy and less flare. He's not exactly mr. fundamental though either.  So Magic, John Wall and Timmy.

[celticmania]

Ben Simmons is less flashy Magic

Brandon Ingram is Rashard Lewis

[Fafnir]

"Alpha Dog"ness is not a thing.

Just a vague macho term that people use when they can't describe something good about a player.

[Tr1boy]

It's funny i just went and watched lebron highlights from highschool and totally different personalities.  Simmons doesnt appear to have one.  He reminds me of Tim Duncan if Tim Duncan were playing guard though at least personality wise.  As far as his game. It's unique. There has never been anyone his size who can handle the ball like that outside of magic johnson.  He's like Magic if he played more like Timmy and less flare. He's not exactly mr. fundamental though either.  So Magic, John Wall and Timmy.

Duncan?

Duncan maybe quiet but he was as dominating as they come.  A winner and first ballot HOF

Duncan and Lebron on the same plane


Magic Johnson is an OK comparison though. Some have Simmons compared to Lamar Odom? Should be better than Odom one would guess

[walker834]

He's brad dougherty if he played pg then.  That's my latest comparison. I don't see him on those guys levels either but he is very unique. If Brad Dougherty had more explosion and could play pg that's a really good player in todays nba.

He's super explosive for a guy that size.  That much is known.  There has never been a player like that that size with that kind of explosion.

I will say never too. Never.    Maybe Magic. That's about it. They were shorter than him though.   He is not nearly as skilled as guys like that or Pippen.  I've watched  highlights comparing them as far as the different shots Pippen would take and hang and spin and come up with different shots. Watched lebron, magic, pippen, etc the past couple days too. Even pulled up old Len Bias highlights.  Just to compare different athletes.

As far as an athlete he probably compares most to Brad dougherty.  Just body type and size and speed etc. The game is different now. Dougherty obviously wasn't handling the ball like that. He was an inch taller as well.

[TheSundanceKid]

For Simmons I've always thought Lamar Odom was a good comp. Both big guys with good handles, good rebounding and athleticism. I think Simmons has a higher ceiling that Odom but in terms of style of play they are similar.

For Ingram I think he has the potential to be a good scorer, great finishing touch to his game. But he doesn't seem to be a natural passer or creator, he's about getting his. I don't mean that as a negative, just that when he has the ball he's more tunnelled in on scoring than Durant or someone like Pierce for example. I don't know who that compares to though.

[PhoSita]

I like the idea of Simmons as a sort of PF version of Rondo with elements of Odom and Diaw.

I think he'll be a mess if he ends up in the wrong situation... Lakers for example. But I trust Stevens to get the most out of him.

[crimson_stallion]

Lebrons "alpha dog" quality is something Simmons lack.  Ingram just doesn't move as well/explosive as Durant. Durant's first step to the basket is exceptional. While Ingram struggles at times to turn the corner

Who does Simmons compare to? Ingram compare to?  Then..

Lebron has an "alpha dog" quality?

First I've heard of it.  He's been playing for something like 12 years now and I still haven't seen more than 2 or 3 moments where he has actually acted like anything resembling a leader.

Lebron is a softy who lacks leadership skills and who dominates the game because of elite athleticism, and an incredibly versatile skill set.  Intangibles certainly have nothing to do with his success.

I honestly think the Lebron comparison is closer to the Odom one.

Odom was a forward had a very skinny frame, and who had excellent ball handling and passing skills by big man standards (which allowed him to play point-forward at times).

Lebron is a SF who has the body of a power forward, and who has elite ball handling and passing skills even by PG standards.

Simmons falls into the latter category much more than he does the former.  Odom didn't have ball handling skills or passing skills close to Simmons, and even after 6 or 7 years in the league he still never had the type of body that Simmons has now as a 19 year old.

[Roy H.]

I think a reasonably optimistic comparison for Simmons is Blake Griffin.  I don't buy any of the hyperbole that compares his passing skills to Oscar, Magic, Lebron, etc.  Blake averages 5+ assists per game, and Simmons would be doing well if he reached that level.  Both are explosive athletes, but neither is much of a shooter.

I can't think of a great comparison for Ingram.  A blend between Kawhi and Mike Dunleavy on offense?  I'm less sure about his defense.

[Roy H.]

Lebrons "alpha dog" quality is something Simmons lack.  Ingram just doesn't move as well/explosive as Durant. Durant's first step to the basket is exceptional. While Ingram struggles at times to turn the corner

Who does Simmons compare to? Ingram compare to?  Then..

Lebron has an "alpha dog" quality?

First I've heard of it.  He's been playing for something like 12 years now and I still haven't seen more than 2 or 3 moments where he has actually acted like anything resembling a leader.

Lebron is a softy who lacks leadership skills and who dominates the game because of elite athleticism, and an incredibly versatile skill set.  Intangibles certainly have nothing to do with his success.

I honestly think the Lebron comparison is closer to the Odom one.

Odom was a forward had a very skinny frame, and who had excellent ball handling and passing skills by big man standards (which allowed him to play point-forward at times).

Lebron is a SF who has the body of a power forward, and who has elite ball handling and passing skills even by PG standards.

Simmons falls into the latter category much more than he does the former.  Odom didn't have ball handling skills or passing skills close to Simmons, and even after 6 or 7 years in the league he still never had the type of body that Simmons has now as a 19 year old.

I think that's a pretty outdated view of Lebron.  I don't think his killer instinct has been in question since his first title.  Did you watch him against Golden State last year?  What did you see there that made you question whether he was the "alpha"?

[MBz]

Lebrons "alpha dog" quality is something Simmons lack.  Ingram just doesn't move as well/explosive as Durant. Durant's first step to the basket is exceptional. While Ingram struggles at times to turn the corner

Who does Simmons compare to? Ingram compare to?  Then..

Lebron has an "alpha dog" quality?

First I've heard of it.  He's been playing for something like 12 years now and I still haven't seen more than 2 or 3 moments where he has actually acted like anything resembling a leader.

Lebron is a softy who lacks leadership skills and who dominates the game because of elite athleticism, and an incredibly versatile skill set.  Intangibles certainly have nothing to do with his success.

I honestly think the Lebron comparison is closer to the Odom one.

Odom was a forward had a very skinny frame, and who had excellent ball handling and passing skills by big man standards (which allowed him to play point-forward at times).

Lebron is a SF who has the body of a power forward, and who has elite ball handling and passing skills even by PG standards.

Simmons falls into the latter category much more than he does the former.  Odom didn't have ball handling skills or passing skills close to Simmons, and even after 6 or 7 years in the league he still never had the type of body that Simmons has now as a 19 year old.

I think that's a pretty outdated view of Lebron.  I don't think his killer instinct has been in question since his first title.  Did you watch him against Golden State last year?  What did you see there that made you question whether he was the "alpha"?

Completely agree.  He deferred to Wade when they lost to Dallas.  After that, he took over and has been the guy. 

[nickagneta]

I have never been a fan of player comparisons as I believe they set unfair expectations for the young player and does a disservice to the legacy of the older player. That said I get people love to do it.

Simmons is a Blake Griffin/Lamar Odom hybrid type player. I am not sure he will reach the level of either player but it wouldn't surprise me to see him be an overall better player than either as well. Time will tell but as for the style of game he has, I think its similar to those players.

Ingram is tougher. He is definitely a SG/SF who will do best looking for his own offense and having others help create space so he can succeed as a scorer. In that way he reminds me of Klay Thompson, though like my other comparison, I am not sure he could ever get to be as good as KT but could be better under the right circumstances.

I think Ingram has a much longer way to go to develop to be a star than Simmons. I also dont see Ingram's ceiling being higher than Simmons. But if he develops his body and game and Simmons never develops a mid range game or three pointer, I could see Ingram being better than Simmons.