Brooklyn Nets point guard Ben Simmons has opened up about the three basketball legends who shaped his game growing up. In an interview with NBA insider Brandon “Scoop B” Robinson, Simmons revealed that LeBron James, Magic Johnson, and Dwyane Wade were his primary inspirations.
“Those were the three people that I watched the most in terms of film and their games,” Simmons shared. The 28-year-old pointed to these icons as central figures in his basketball development, praising their skills and influence on the game.
Johnson’s impact on Simmons has been particularly profound. In 2019, Simmons even reached out to the NBA Hall of Famer with hopes of working out together. The NBA investigated the contact, considering possible rules violations, but concluded there were no issues. Simmons has consistently admired Johnson’s basketball IQ and versatility. “Magic was dominant,” he said. “He was 6’9”, could handle the ball, had great vision, and great feel for the game.”
Simmons highlighted Johnson’s unique skills, particularly his ball-handling and passing ability. “People take passing and ball-handling for granted. There are some guys in the league who can’t dribble the ball. We call them ‘tunas.’ But Magic, LeBron, and Wade were the ones I studied the most.”
Wade, a three-time NBA champion and one of the league’s all-time greats, also made a lasting impression on Simmons. “Wade wasn’t a great outside shooter, but he had a great feel for the game, great footwork, and he impacted the game in so many ways,” Simmons said. “That’s what’s most important—being able to impact the game on both sides of the ball.”
Simmons also discussed the contrasts between James and Johnson, especially their athleticism. “LeBron has been doing this for so long, and his body has kept up because he takes great care of it,” Simmons explained. “He’s a freak of nature. Size-wise, they’re pretty similar, but LeBron handles it a little better, shoots the ball a little bit better. He’s just developed his game over time and just continuously adapts to the game.”
Despite these lofty influences, Simmons has yet to find the level of success he once showed. This season, he’s averaging close to career-low numbers with 6.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, and 7 assists in 25.2 minutes per game. The former No. 1 overall pick, who earned three All-Star selections earlier in his career, is still striving to recapture the form that made him one of the league’s top players.
