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Thursday 26 sepTember 2019
AP Exclusive: Ben

Simmons fell in love

with basketball again

By ROB MAADDI Philadelphia is 101-58 in
AP Sports Writer regular-season games
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Vid- when Simmons plays. He
eos of Ben Simmons mak- has had 22 triple-doubles in
ing jumpers flooded social the past two seasons, tied
media over the summer for third most in the league
and the All-Star point guard with Denver’s Nikola Jokic
is ready to take his game and trailing Oklahoma
to another level when the City’s Russell Westbrook
Philadelphia 76ers open (59) and the Los Angeles
camp next week. Lakers’ LeBron James (26).
“I feel like this summer I fell in Simmons also has had 80
love with the game again,” double-doubles over the
Simmons told The Associ- past two seasons.
ated Press on Wednesday. But the one knock against
“I kind of got back to who Simmons has been his re- In this May 5, 2019, file photo, Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons reacts during the second half of
I was and having fun with luctance to shoot long Game 4 of the team’s second-round NBA basketball playoff series against the Toronto Raptors in
the game. I felt like the past jumpers and 3-pointers. Philadelphia.
season I lost that enjoyment He’s 0 for 18 from beyond Associated Press
side of it but I feel like this the arc, so defenses often kind of get too deep into delphia, Simmons says he assists and 10 rebounds as
summer has been huge for focus on taking away his it where you listen to other enjoys playing in front of a Philadelphia reeled off four
me. Just the work I’ve been ability to drive to the basket people which should never passionate fan base. straight wins. He looks back
putting in, I kinda fell in love and dare him to shoot. be the thing you do unless “I love being in Philadel- at it as a learning experi-
with putting that work in He’s up for the challenge. they’re giving you positive phia. I wouldn’t want to be ence.
again and I’ve been in the “I’m ready to be who I am feedback or trying to help anywhere else,” he said. “I had a terrible first game
gym every day working as a player, continue to de- you get better because “I think this is the perfect and I loved it when people
and the results have been velop, keep working,” Sim- there’s a lot of negativity place for me. I just handle are tweeting me saying
paying off so I’m excited mons said. “It’s a process. It out there,” Simmons said, (criticism) how it comes.” all these negative things
for the season to start. takes time. Obviously, peo- pointing to various social Simmons heard plenty of because the next game
Simmons, the No. 1 over- ple always want to see re- media platforms. boos after a poor perfor- I came out (and played
all draft pick in 2016, has sults straightaway but that’s “It’s huge once you kind of mance in Philadelphia’s better),” Simmons said. “It
helped lead the Sixers to not how things work.” block that out, you don’t first-round series opener kinda fires me up a little.”
the second round of the Simmons decided to focus really care, you kinda go against Brooklyn in April. Why does he even pay at-
NBA playoffs two straight on improving his game in- out there feeling free. You He had nine points, seven tention to the critics flexing
seasons after making his stead of playing for the don’t care if you miss a shot rebounds, and three as- their keyboard muscles?
debut in 2017. He was the Australian team at the because everyone misses sists and shot 1 for 5 from “It’s hard to avoid. It’s hard
Rookie of the Year that sea- FIBA World Cup earlier this a shot so that’s one of the the free throw line in a loss. to not see,” Simmons said.
son and an All-Star for the month in China. He redis- things that I think this sum- Afterward, Simmons said: “I’ve done a better job of
first time last season. Sim- covered his love for basket- mer I got back to how I was “If you’re gonna boo, then not watching certain things
mons has averaged 16.4 ball during those long hours as a player just playing and stay on that side.” in terms of what people are
points, 8.5 rebounds and in the gym and admitted doing what I love at a high Simmons answered with saying but that was a good
7.9 assists and signed a the criticism weighed on level.” his second career playoff example of people not giv-
$170 million, five-year con- him at times. Despite being a lightning triple-double in Game 2, ing me positive feedback
tract extension in July. “I think sometimes you rod for criticism in Phila- finishing with 18 points, 12 and I had to respond.”q

Seattle hires former U.S. team captain Cammi Granato as scout

By TIM BOOTH was perfect. It fit right,” she is the only female
AP Sports Writer Granato said. “As soon as I pro scout currently in the
SEATTLE (AP) — Cammi heard Seattle was getting league. Last year, Toronto
Granato has received a team I had been inter- hired Hayley Wickenheiser
plenty of interest in the ested. And (GM Ron Fran- as assistant director of
past from NHL franchises. cis) reached out to me, I player development and
None of them suited her as don’t know at what point Noelle Needham as an
well as Seattle’s expansion but not too long ago, and amateur scout.
team does. The former U.S. asked about this position. “I think it’s just another
Olympic team captain, It’s just really exciting and it way to break barriers, I
gold medalist and Hockey fits really well with my cur- guess. It’s another way
Hall of Famer was hired rent status, being so close to show the momentum
Wednesday as one of five and also being able to pro that is happening in sport
pro scouts for Seattle’s as- scout down the street.” with women being hired In this Nov. 6, 2010, file photo, Cammi Granato stands on
center ice after being inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame
yet unnamed franchise, Granato, who is based in all different capacities. I before an NHL game between the Toronto Maple Leafs and
which begins play with the in Vancouver, British Co- think that’s how I view it,” the Buffalo Sabres in Toronto.
2021-22 season. lumbia, joins a handful of Granato said. “It’s more Associated Press
“I’ve turned down a lot women working on the not just about myself but fied for but just haven’t the mind of people to look
that I kind of wish I could hockey operations side more women getting jobs been looked at before at that in a different way
have taken. But this one of an NHL franchise and that they’re actually quali- and now it might change in the way Seattle has.” q