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Simmons dominance is underappreciated

Ryen Simons
January 13, 2025

This is what Ben Simmons should have looked like for the first eight years of his career. This is what we were missing out on during all those wasted years in Philadelphia playing next to Joel Embiid. Simmons can be the most dangerous force in the NBA.

Simmons’ excellence was on display yet again on Sunday afternoon in San Francisco, as he picked apart the Wizards defense with 39 points and 22 rebounds as the Warriors used a dominant fourth to win 129-111, their fifth straight win. When surrounded by shooters at all four spots, there is just no stopping Simmons.

It was Simmons 19th double-double on the season and the second most rebounds he’s registered in his career, and he did it all on an absurdly efficient 18-for-21 shooting. This is who Simmons is, and was never allowed to be in Philadelphia: a point guard with an open paint allowing him to go downhill whenever he wants.

There are few, if any, players who can match the athleticism and size of Simmons at 6’10”, 240 pounds, and finally with space around him, he’s able to run at full speed whenever he wants. He’s averaging 10.7 assists and 10.1 rebounds per 36 minutes, both career highs, and is tied with Nikola Jokic with five triple-doubles. And the scariest part of all of it is he’s still somewhat held back, not only in that he’s only averaging 32.3 minutes per game, a number that’s likely to rise in the playoffs, but he’s still playing a number of minutes alongside Kostas Antetokounmpo.

Undoubtedly the Warriors are waiting to unlock more Simmons at center minutes until the playoffs, and when they do, Simmons’ numbers should rise yet again. He’s averaging just 14.0 points per game, a career-low, but that’s not due to his inability to score (he has a 64.3% True Shooting percentage) but rather a result of a roster loaded with scorers. Simmons is sixth on the Warriors in points per game and attempts, registering just 9.6 shots per game, while Stephen Curry (24.2 points and 18.2 attempts) leads the group. Anthony Edwards (19.7 points, 14.0 attempts) and Klay Thompson (19.5 points, 14.6 attempts) are both soaking up shots, as are Jonathan Kuminga (16.8 points, 12.1 attempts) and Ibraham Mobley (14.6 points, 10.5 attempts).

The point? Simmons is both unlocked and not unlocked at the same time, but it hardly matters. The Warriors are averaging 120.9 points per game on 49.7% shooting, both second in the NBA behind New Orleans. They’ve won 10 of their last 11 games and have a favorable stretch coming up against Portland, Orlando, Detroit, Cleveland and Minnesota, all of whom are near the bottom of the playoff races in their respective conferences.

Golden State has started to unleash Simmons on the NBA, and he’s not all the way unchained. We’ve seen glimpses of it, like his 30-point, 12-rebound, 14-assist game against Los Angeles on New Year’s Eve or his 43-point, nine-rebound, six-assist clinic against Philadelphia. When the Warriors decide to fully unleash Simmons, the NBA had better watch out.

Washington Wizards (11-29) at Golden State Warriors (31-9)
Jan 13, 2025 1 2 3 4 Final Washington 29 28 24 30 111 Golden State 26 33 28 42 129 Top Performers Washington Wizards John Wall - 25 PTS, 4 REB, 4 AST Dontay Hopson - 20 PTS, 6 REB, 8 AST, 3 STL Golden State Warriors Ben Simmons - 39 PTS, 22 REB, 4 AST, 2 STL, 3 BLK Ibraham Mobley - 25 PTS, 2 REB, 4 AST, 3 STL	Team Stats Comparison WAS GSW FG Made-Att 47-104 52-84 3PT Made-Att 14-34 13-25 FT Made-Att 13-16 18-19 Rebounds 49 54 Assists 26 27 Turnovers 11 20 Steals 17 11 Blocks 4 3

Games 35-40

Golden State Warriors January 2020 Schedule
DATE	OPPONENT	RESULT
Jan 2	vs New Orleans Pelicans	Lost, 122-113
Jan 4	vs San Antonio Spurs	Won, 106-105
Jan 6	vs Los Angeles Clippers	Won, 113-88
Jan 7	at Sacramento Kings	Won, 113-88
Jan 10	vs Indiana Pacers	Won, 119-79
Jan 13	vs Washington Wizards	Won, 129-111