76ers Take Ben Simmons First Overall In NBA Draft

The Philadelphia 76ers picked LSU forward Ben Simmons with the first overall pick in the NBA Draft on Thursday. The move was expected, as the Sixers were the only team Simmons had worked out with ahead of the draft. The 6-foot-10 Simmons, who was born in Melbourne, Australia, played one season at LSU, averaging 19.2 points and 11.8 rebounds a game. Philadelphia was the worst team in the NBA last season, going a miserable 10-72. They hope Simmons will be as successful as the team's last No. 1 overall pick, Allen Iverson in 1996. Iverson went on to be a league MVP and 11-time All Star. The Los Angeles Lakers picked Duke forward Brandon Ingram with the second pick.