Ben Simmons

“A lot of guys go into the NBA not being able to shoot the ball well, but then they become great shooters.”

“I just want to win. I'm a team guy. I just want my team to do well.”

“I'm a big guy, but I play with a guard mentality. I got that from my dad, and it's always stayed with me.”

“I loved my Communications class. The toughest one I had was Oceanography only because I didn't have too much interest in the oceans.”

“I enjoyed my time at L.S.U. I wouldn't change it for anything. My dad went to college - my sisters, brothers - so I felt like I just had to, and I enjoyed it.”

“If I don't need to shoot the ball, I won't do it.”

“People say a lot of things about LeBron, but he just keeps having a good mentality and grinding. That's what I try to do, proving people wrong by what I do on the court.”

“I just like hanging out, really. I'm not too hard to please.”

“I'm kind of ready for anything. I don't really get nervous, and I'm not the type of person who gets worried about a game. I just play the game, and I enjoy it.”

“I'll have time to mature and develop, and one day, hopefully, I can bring a ring to wherever I am. LeBron did it.”

“Once I start shooting that jumper, I feel like I will be one of those guys that is hard to stop.”

“It's great to be compared to a great player like Tracy McGrady, but I think I'm my own type of player. I'm 6'10" and a bit bigger than he is as a player. I also think I'm a bit different and play a different position. He's more of a guard, and I can play all around through five.”

“I think my versatility is a big strength. I don't think anybody can guard me, just because I'm 6'10 and can dribble and play point. If I have a little guy on me, I take him to the post. For me to be able to then pass the ball, it helps me a lot.”

“I guess, if it wasn't for Jordan, there would be no LeBron or Kobe who plays like that.”

“For me, I always try and deliver. Regardless of the situation, I always try and play hard every time I step out on the court. If I don't deliver and play well, then I know I haven't been working hard enough.”

“I was in school to play basketball; I wasn't trying to be a doctor. It's hard to talk about the NCAA rules and everything that happened in the past because I've just been focused on practicing and getting ready... I was trying to reach my dreams, and that's to play in the NBA.”

“I'm the best PlayStation player you'll ever see. I'll play anything. 'Call of Duty,' 'NBA2K,' 'Grand Theft Auto.'”

“Getting the rebound and going, that's probably the most fluid part of my game.”

“If I ever make a lot of money in the NBA, I'm going to have this massive tank, and it's going to have an alligator in it.”

“I look at the N.B.A. as a job, a great job to have, so I think, for me, I would have loved the opportunity to go to the N.B.A. out of high school. If you're not ready, you're not ready. If you are ready, I think you should be able to go.”