You'd have to go back at least 20 years to find anybody close to him, but I cant help but think Ben Simmons might be the best player to ever play in this conference. Thoughts?
Ben Simmons- Best SEC Player Ever?
- Thread starter RBDawg.sixpack
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Pistol Pete.... 40 points a game for their entire college career would have to be in ANY conversation for the best player in the SEC.
Dominique Wilkins and Barkley would be another two, but Pistol Pete would definitely be #1.
I saw Pistol Pete play when LSU was in town in Starkville during the 60s. He was absolutely phenomenal, and the best I've ever seen. Seems like he scored around 70 points against us, and our fans were even yelling for him. He's the best I've ever seen, but basketball in the SEC was all white then ... I'm not sure how he'd do under today's rosters.
Whole lot of rhetoric here and twitter about a guy 14 games into his college career. Might be time to lightly tap the brakes. There's no doubt he's special, but I'd like to see more before declaring him the best in the last "X" years. At this point I couldn't go back any further than Anthony Davis. Different style players for sure offensively with Simmons being smoother and more versatile, but Davis blows him out of the water defensively. Putting him a league with Shaq, Maravich, Nique, etc? Maybe one day, but not now. Unfortunately the SEC is so bad this year that we may not get to see him tested like some of those stars of the past were when the league was a war from top to bottom.
The interesting thing is that I'm having trouble thinking of anybody great other than the unibrow. Outside of Davis, who in the NBA that's good came from the SEC. John Wall, Joaquim Noah, Al Horford,Boogie, Bledsoe. A decent number of solid players but can't think of an elite guy other than Davis in a while.
Nice avatar (I think that's what it's called.), Utah_Chaney. My first show was 1978.
Pistol Pete, no doubt. For you young folks, go to YouTube and watch. What Pistol could do with a basketball was nothing short of magical.
Pistol Pete, no doubt. For you young folks, go to YouTube and watch. What Pistol could do with a basketball was nothing short of magical.
Screw going back 20 years, you have to go back not even half a decade to get to Anthony Davis.
NCAA champ, national record for blocks as a freshman, #1 draft pick, and US Olympian- all before what would have been his sophmore year.
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Yes, Simmons' stats are higher, but he is also depended on more to produce. Shouldering more offensive responsibility means scoring more.
Also, LSU's non-conference competition was significantly lower than UK's, meaning perhaps higher stats by talented players.
With that said- Simmons has been incredible. Even when he barely scored against NC State, he still registered a double double.
As soon as he develops(or employs) a jump shot, holy hell look out.
NCAA champ, national record for blocks as a freshman, #1 draft pick, and US Olympian- all before what would have been his sophmore year.
| Year | Team | GP | GS | MPG | FG% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–12 | Kentucky | 40 | 40 | 32.0 | .623 | .150 | .709 | 10.4 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 4.7 | 14.2 |
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Yes, Simmons' stats are higher, but he is also depended on more to produce. Shouldering more offensive responsibility means scoring more.
Also, LSU's non-conference competition was significantly lower than UK's, meaning perhaps higher stats by talented players.
With that said- Simmons has been incredible. Even when he barely scored against NC State, he still registered a double double.
As soon as he develops(or employs) a jump shot, holy hell look out.
It's hard for me to rank Pistol Pete among other SEC/NCAA greats typically thrown around. The game was so different when he played that it's barely the same thing. Same thing that gets me when we talk about where Bailey Howell ranks among our own all time greats. Guys like the two of them almost belong in a separate tier of their own. It's almost an apples to oranges thing in my opinion.
Bernard King and Allen Houston from Tn--Shaq-Bob petit and Pistol Pete from LSU--Bailey and Jeff malone from MSU--Johnny the Gun and Carlos Clark from the Rebs---Barkley and Persons from the Barn---Wilkins from Ga. ark-Moncrief & Corliss Williams, Fla-Noah and vernon Maxwell. Horry and Mc Dyess for Bama- all pretty dang good . Bernie- shaq-Bob Petit-Pete-Nique-Barkley were all top 50 all time NBA players.
I don't even think Simmons is the best player to play at LSU! I'd put Pete Maravich, Chris Jackson and Shaq above him right now.
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