Former Sixers star Ben Simmons ranked as great defender in NBA history

Former Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons was once of the better players in the league on both ends of the floor. Not only could he get to the basket and make life easier for himself and everybody around him, but he was also able to make defensive plays to help the Sixers get out and run and use their athletes and shooters to get easy buckets.

Simmons was named to the All-Defensive First Team twice during his time in Philadelphia and was able to lead the charge on that end for the Sixers. He used his unique blend of athleticism and size to be able to deter opponents on getting to the basket and pushed a lot of his opponents toward places they didn't want to go.

Bleacher Report ranked the top 99 defenders in the history of the NBA and Simmons came in ranked No. 94 on the list:

Ben Simmons' career is one of the most fascinating (and potentially depressing) we've seen in recent memory, and it ended way too soon (though he's talked about attempting a comeback for 2026-27).

He was the first overall pick in the draft, won Rookie of the Year and looked like one of the best and most dynamic transition playmakers in the league. He was also an absolute menace on the defensive end, particularly against guards tasked with getting around his 6'10" frame.

By the end of his age-24 campaign, Simmons had already made three All-Star teams and had two top-four finishes in Defensive Player of the Year voting.

But a seemingly psychosomatic aversion to shooting and chronic back problems derailed what might otherwise have been a DPOY-winning career.

Simmons averaged 13.1 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 7.2 assists across his 7-year career with the Sixers, Brooklyn Nets, and Los Angeles Clippers. He has talked about making a comeback for the 2026-27 season, but that remains to be seen. He would need to prove he can still play at a high level for whoever were to pick him up.

This article originally appeared on Sixers Wire: Former Sixers star Ben Simmons ranked as great defender in NBA history