Ben Simmions main goal ahead of new NBA season

Ben Simmons is one of the favorites to win this season’s NBA Rookie of the Year title, but the Melbourne native has much higher goals.

Simmons — back home for a two-week break visiting family and friends, playing some pick-up games, watching AFL matches, “doing relaxing things,” and hosting his own basketball camp — is on the verge of finally playing for the Philadelphia 76ers after a serious foot injury sidelined him last year.

The 2016 No.1 draft pick is, alongside first-year Los Angeles Lakers point guard Lonzo Ball, one of the hot favorites to take this season’s award for best rookie, but on Sunday he was open in outlining a much higher ambition.

“My goal is to be the best in the league,” he told ESPN. “I’m not worried about other rookies — I’m worried about the guys at the top, and that’s where I want to be.”

Simmons said if everything goals according to plan, the Sixers were primed to finally break their six-year playoffs drought.

“Physically I feel really good. I’m ready to play and get the season started,” he said. “I’ve just got to go out and work hard … and if everyone in the team does the samething, I think we can do great things.

“We have a great young team. … I think we can do some great things, I’m looking forward to heading back to Philly.”

Simmons is set to head back to Philly today, and despite the frustrations of missing a year through injury said he took some positives out of his debut season.

“There was definitely [some advantages to having a year off]. I’ve had a whole year to grow and learn and focus on what I need to focus on. I think that whole year has really helped me,” he said, adding he needed to continue to work on “learning the game, scoring, defense … everything.”