Ben Simmons Says He's a Starting PG, Believes He Can Play with Markelle Fultz

The top overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft, Ben Simmons, believes he will be a point guard in the NBA and isn't worried about his fit next to 2017 top pick Markelle Fultz as the pair attempts to mesh for the Philadelphia 76ers this season.

"I think you can move me anywhere," Simmons said Sunday at the Las Vegas Summer League, per ESPN.com. "But I'm a starting point guard."

He added: "I have no problem sharing the ball. [Fultz] doesn't, either. Watching him play, he can share the ball."

He isn't worried about people doubting his ability to be the team's primary playmaker, either, per Keith Pompey of Philly.com:

Simmons' words mirrored those of head coach Brett Brown, as ESPN.com noted:

"Brown announced last December that he planned to use Simmons at point guard. In April he stood firm with his decision, telling The Vertical Podcast that 'When I say point guard, I mean point guard,' although he said he doesn't envision Simmons guarding the opposing team's point guard during games.

"After drafting Fultz last month, Brown said of Simmons: 'We're excited to use him as the primary ball-carrier.'"

Simmons, 20, missed all of his rookie year with a fractured fifth metatarsal in his right foot. In his one season at LSU, he played power forward but also was a facilitator and averaged 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. He also averaged 5.5 assists per contest in two games for the Sixers during summer-league play last year.

Fultz, on the other hand, played point guard in his lone college season at Washington, posting 23.2 points, 5.9 assists and 5.7 rebounds per contest.

The rookie is a capable scorer who can play off the ball and ostensibly is a strong fit alongside Simmons for that reason, which likely played a major factor in the team's decision to trade up to the top overall pick to draft him in June.

That projected starting lineup consists of Simmons, Fultz, JJ Redick, Robert Covington and Joel Embiid, with Fultz, Redick and Covington spacing the floor to allow Embiid space in the post and Simmons plenty of kick-out options on the perimeter when he drives to the basket.

Defensively, Simmons will likely guard power forwards, allowing him to stay closer to the basket and contribute as a rebounder and then push the tempo in transition.

Given that Embiid has played only 31 games in his career, Simmons and Fultz will be making their NBA debuts and Redick joined the team through free agency, there will be an adjustment period as the group learns to play together. And finding a balance with Simmons and Fultz on the ball will be a challenge for Brown.

But Philadelphia is flush with potential, and if Simmons thrives as the team's de facto point guard and Fultz adjusts to playing off the ball, a squad that won all of 75 games over the past four seasons could make a major leap forward in 2017-18.