Being Ben

From the basketball courts of Australia to the top of the NBA Draft, Simmons' rise was as sudden as it was spectacular. Once an unknown young player in Melbourne, Simmons became the No. 1 overall pick and quickly emerged as one of the league's most dynamic talents as a member of the Philadelphia 76ers – the centerpiece of a franchise with championship expectations.But in Game 7 of the 2021 Eastern Conference semifinals against the Atlanta Hawks, Simmons passed up an open dunk in a defining moment that became a symbol of his unraveling—and sent his career on a dramatic downward turn.