The friendship of LeBron James and #1 overall pick Ben Simmons has been interesting to watch from afar in recent days.
Simmons has said he “learned a lot” from LeBron, including how to handle critics.
“I’ve learned a lot just being around LeBron,” Simmons said. “People say things about him all the time, but he would never say anything back. That’s what I learned from him: Don’t retaliate to articles or pieces or to things that are said about me.”
In an appearance on the Dan Patrick Show on NBCSports, Simmons told a story about how LeBron congratulated him on being selected #1 overall.
Simmons told LeBron he looked forward to guarding him, to which the newly crowned champion responded by showing him the Larry O’Brien Trophy.
Here’s a clip of Simmons’ interview with Patrick.
Even back in December when the Cavaliers played their one road game in New Orleans, Simmons attended the game and told ESPN during an in-game interview, “He’s one of the best players in the world that’s played the game. I just try to take little parts of his game and put it into mine. His size is one of the things that I look at. I’m 6-10, and he’s right at 6-8 or 6-9, and I just try and fit what he does into my game.”
LeBron told reporters he was ok with the comparisons between himself and Simmons after the game, saying, “Someone’s going to be compared to someone all the time, and I don’t mind him being compared to me. People not only recognizing what he does on the floor, but he’s a great kid, too. He has a great family, great support system, and that’s why he’s able to do what he [does] on the floor.”
It will be interesting to see when the Sixers and Cavs square off how the #1 overall pick tries to go at the reigning champ.
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