Philadelphia 76ers selected Ben Simmons No. 1 in 2016 NBA draft

The Philadelphia 76ers made Ben Simmons the first overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft. Coming off a challenging 10-72 season, the Sixers leveraged their lottery position to select the LSU star. Simmons missed his entire rookie season but debuted in 2017-18, winning Rookie of the Year with averages of 15.8 points, 8.2 assists, and 8.1 rebounds. He became a three-time All-Star before a trade request emerged following a playoff elimination in 2021. Simmons was traded to the Brooklyn Nets in 2022 and later dealt with injuries during his time with the team and the Los Angeles Clippers before moving into a professional fishing career.

• 11:02 AMYahoo Sports — Philadelphia 76ers draft history: Selecting Ben Simmons No. 1 in 2016