Photo Credit: Michael Dwyer/AP

Shaquille O’Neal Not Concerned With Ben Simmons’ Lack Of Shooting: “I Didn’t Make Free Throws, But I Got Four Rings”

Ben Simmons has constantly shown stellar all-around performances and has emerged as an All-Star caliber player in his young career. However, there are still countless of critics who couldn’t go a day without picking apart his game because of his lack of jumper.

While his shooting has been an obvious flaw to his game, Simmons makes up for it by being elite in all areas of the floor. In fact, Simmons has been a menace on defense and is seen as a potential winner for the ‘Defensive Player of the Year’ award this season. Combined with his elite playmaking, steady scoring numbers and rebounding, you get one of the best all-around players the league has to offer.

Fans with higher expectations may still not be satisfied with his arsenal, but other observers like Shaquille O’Neal believe that his weakness isn’t much of a concern since Simmons finds other ways to dominate the game of basketball.

Per Fox Sports:

“Ben is automatic and Chuck (Charles Barkley) made some very interesting comments about him needing to develop a jump shot. I’m not a jump shot shooter but I agree with him. But what do you do when you don’t have a jump shot in this league? You do something else. I can do other things. I’m averaging 16-8-8, I don’t need no jump shot. I want to be the best defensive player, I want to lead the league in deflections, I’m going to make you work.”

“I didn’t make free throws but I got four rings. It really don’t matter what you have and don’t have, you’ve got to do other things and do them well and that’s what Ben is doing right now,” Shaquille O’Neal exclaimed.