Aussie Legend of the Week: Ben Simmons

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Not actually Ben Simmons, but isn’t it cool!

Last night in the United States, Australian basketballer Ben Simmons was picked at number 1 in the NBA 2016 draft, going to the Philadelphia 76ers. His close friends and family were there to watch, and are no doubt celebrating.

This sets a couple of records – he becomes the eighth Australian currently in the NBA, more than ever before. Far more importantly, he is now the 3rd Melbournian to be drafted at number 1 to the NBA in the last 11 years. He follows in the footsteps of Kyrie Irving (2011) and Andrew Bogut (2005.) This makes Melbourne the biggest producer of number 1 NBA draft picks, of any city in the world, in the modern era.

Take that, Sydney.

Although experts are divided on whether basketball is actually a sport, this well and truly earns Ben Simmons The XYZ Aussie Legend of the Week.

Photo by BasketStreaming

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David has studied history and political science at Melbourne University. His thesis was written on how the utilisation of Missile Defence can help to achieve nuclear disarmament. His interest in history was piqued by playing a flight simulator computer game about the Battle of Britain, and he hopes to one day siphon the earnings from his political writings into funding the greatest prog-rock concept album the world has ever seen.