After a season on the sideline, Ben Simmons is ready to roll.

Taking to Instagram on Monday, the top pick from the 2016 NBA Draft shared a motivational message with his Philadelphia fans.


"Roughly a year since I arrived in Philly and some think I've stayed the same," Simmons wrote. "I've had a year to learn, experience and develop my game to the point where I'm ready to grab this up coming season by the throat. Looking back now I would have killed the old me on the court. Philly, it's going to be a scary sight. Let's go!"

With all of the hype surrounding the Sixers' top pick in this past June's draft, Markelle Fultz, as well as Lonzo Ball, Jayson Tatum, and the rest of the 2017 draft class, it's possible that Simmons is feeling a little overlooked, and he's clearly ready to remind people of exactly who he is and what he brings to a basketball court.

As he alluded to in his post, Simmons used his 'red shirt' season with the Sixers to work on his game and his body, much as Joel Embiid did during the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. The physical transformation that Simmons has undergone in the past 12 months is evident, as he looks much more the part of a chiseled NBA player than he did fresh out of college.

His game - specifically his shot - has developed as well. 


These improvements are the result of countless hours and late nights at the Sixers training complex in Camden when no one - except for some late night social media lurkers - was watching.

Simmons has put in the work, and now he's ready to get his.

 

Follow Michael Kaskey-Blomain on Twitter @therealmikekb.

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