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Brett Brown Has No Concerns For Ben Simmons: 'I Know How He Ticks'

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- On the morning after LeBron James led the Cleveland Cavaliers to their first championship in franchise history, Sixers fans are dreaming of something similar in their future.

And that something similar, might be the 6'10", 240-pound physically gifted 19-year-old Ben Simmons, who has drawn comparisons to James and is expected to be the Philadelphia 76ers' first-overall pick.

Sixers head coach Brett Brown has coached Simmons' father, Dave, in Australia and says his closeness to the family gives him an advantage at understanding Simmons' personality.

"I think it has to be," Brown said of his history with Simmons' family being an advantage on the 94WIP Morning Show. "I mean how can it not be? I mean you can't make up the history that I've had with their family and then you fast forward it to 2016 -- sort of connecting the dots to end up here is very unusual. I've coached his dad in the late 80's. I've known his mom since then. I remember when Ben when he was born. I came backed to the United States...when I coached the Olympic team you paid attention.

Listen: Brett Brown on the 94WIP Morning Show

 

"And all the sudden, you blink, and he's in a position not only to be selected first but we're in a position where the ping pong ball fell our way and we have an opportunity to choose him. And so all over the place, knowledge of his background, his coaches, people that were around him, his family -- I feel like how can that not be an advantage and in many ways, a great advantage."

In his first and only year in college, the Simmons-led LSU Tigers failed to reach the NCAA Tournament and Australian native drew some attitude-related red flags. Brown called those red flags "conspiracy theories."

"I don't [have questions about his attitude]," Brown said.

"I don't. And I think when I look at somebody being on the stage, coming overseas and then being slapped onto the United States stage. And having the blanket of everybody having an opinion, and scrutiny, and media assessments. And then the LSU program didn't win and he didn't do some things. I don't. I think it's part of being 19, 20 years old. I know how he ticks. I know his family. From a competitive standpoint and a growth perspective, I mean we all get it. They're just teenagers. I think his foundation of his character and his foundation of his family -- he's been raised well. He comes from strong values. I don't worry about this sort of conspiracy theories that at times surround Ben."

Related: Ben Simmons: 'I Just Want To Be The Number One Player'

Thursday night will be Brown's 16th NBA Draft and he talked about the most important part of his evaluation process.

"I still feel like I get the most value when I sit in the room with someone and I just talk with them," Brown said. "You talk about their family, you talk a little bit about basketball. You scratch your head and talk about what's going on in the political scene now of days, and you go wherever it goes. And I feel like for me, I'm trying to identify just beyond competitive people.

"What matters most to me now is just beyond competitive people. And that still for me, that assessment for me, still rules the day."

Insider: Ben Simmons' Pre-Draft Work Ethic Is 'Extraordinary'

And what qualities is Brown looking for when he has those sit-down conversations?

"Teammate. People that have a level of care of communication," Brown said. "People that understand what it really takes to get to a next level. People that have a routine. Out of all the great people I've been around, they all have a rhythm to the day."

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