Kendrick Perkins Compares Ben Simmons to LeBron James

ESPN’s Kendrick Perkins, a one-time NBA Champion, appeared on the Heavy Live With ‘Scoop B’ Show and predicted that 76ers guard Ben Simmons will have a great year.

“Doc Rivers is gonna be that guy who puts Ben Simmons on the low block and actually space Joel [Embiid],” Perkins told Brandon ‘Scoop B’ Robinson.

“He’s gonna use Ben Simmons in the high pick-and-rolls and having him go to either get a deep seal where he can shoot his jump hook or be a lob threat to the basket. And then he’s gonna use Ben Simmons to be that guy playing the dunker’s spot. And then on top of that in transition… I can hear Doc right now yelling at Ben Simmons about push it, push it, push it.”

Perkins also said that new head coach Doc Rivers has an uncanny ability to hold Joel Embiid accountable and make him better. He called Rivers in Philadelphia “a match made in heaven.”

Kendrick Perkins then called Ben Simmons a “baby LeBron” and praised him as a “dog” that isn’t getting enough credit.

A 6′ 10″ point guard, Simmons has averaged 16.4 points, 8.3 rebounds and 8.0 assists in 34.3 minutes over 217 career games. Simmons is a triple-double threat like LeBron James and Magic Johnson and he’s built similarly than James.

Basketball Society’s Martin Soaries told Robinson that Simmons and James Harden are still names out there when it comes to potential trades.

“I have heard that Ben, privately, is not happy in his role in Philadelphia and privately, wants out. And that he doesn’t want to deal with the ridicule of Philly fans, in the sense of he doesn’t want to upset them and, you know how Philly fans are. They love their team, so I get it. And it’s been said to me okay fine, the Timberwolves don’t get Devin Booker Ben Simmons could be a consultation prize in that regard.”