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 