Kendall Jenner's Aussie basketball superstar boyfriend Ben Simmons opens up about the sacrifices he made to reach the top - and what it's like having LeBron James as a mentor
- Ben Simmons lifted lid about sacrifice and pain of climbing to top of basketball
- The 22-year-old basketball hotshot is first Australian to be made an NBA All-Star
- Simmons also opened up what it's like to have LeBron James as a sports mentor
- He said he could turn to the basketball powerhouse for any helpful life advice
Rising basketball star Ben Simmons has lifted the lid on pain, sacrifice and having LeBron James as a mentor as the sports prodigy chases his dream to become the best player in the world.
At just 22 years of age, the Melbourne-product has become Australia's first ever NBA All-Star, taken out the title of Rookie of the Year and earned the praise of some of the game's biggest stars.
Even off the court the Philadelphia 76ers player has been scoring mega points, dating the world's highest paid model Kendall Jenner.
Rising basketball star Ben Simmons has lifted the lid on pain, sacrifice and having LeBron James as a mentor as the sports prodigy chases his dream to become the best player on the court (Simmons pictured with girlfriend Kendall Jenner)
Even off the court the Philadelphia 76ers player has been scoring mega points as he dates the world's highest paid model Kendall Jenner
All that success could very nearly have never happened after a foot injury at training camp almost derailed his dream.
Simmons had only just been made the No.1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft before the Sixers snapped him up.
What was supposed to be his shining debut pro season, was instead a time out as he recovered from a broken foot.
'The injury was definitely the lowest point of my career,' Simmons said in an exclusive interview with GQ.
Rather than call it quits, a positive Simmons took the setback as an opportunity to do some important life administration.
Simmons learned how to look after his body and focused his attention on his mental health.
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That last part was of particular importance as his sister Olivia wrestled with depression.
'Mental health is huge, it's one of the most important things for an athlete – especially somebody that has a lot of pressure and a lot of things going on around them,' Simmons said.
To keep himself in check, Simmons worked with a sports psychologist while studying at Louisiana State University.
That kind of practice led Simmons to bounce back from his injury with a determination that helped lift the Sixers as play-off contenders during the following season.
Simmons had only just been made the No.1 pick in the 2016 NBA Draft before the Sixers snapped him up (Simmons with LeBron James)
What was supposed to be his shining debut pro season, was instead a time out as he recovered from his broken foot
A young Simmons joined his five other siblings to pursue AFL, cricket, basketball and rowing when his family still lived in Melbourne.
'All of our kids were treated the same, they were all coached the same way,' his dad has said.
'Ben just happened to be the kid who turned out to be 6'10'.'
For Simmons, it was fate that he chose basketball in the end.
'I think when I was, like, five years old, I had a dream that I would play in the NBA and I wrote it down on a piece of paper at that age,' he has said.
'I've still got it.'
So when Simmons was only 15, he headed for the US to turn his dream into a reality and ended up at the LeBron James Skills Camp in Las Vegas.
Along with 100 other high-school and college basketball propsects, Simmons learned the game under the guidance of LeBron James.
James didn't take long to pick up on Simmon's potential.
At the end of one session, Simmons said he felt a hand land on his shoulder.
A young Simmons joined his five other siblings to pursue AFL, cricket, basketball and rowing when his family still lived in Melbourne
For Simmons, it was fate that he chose basketball out of all the sports
When he looked up it was James. He told him to wake up at 6.30am for training the next morning.
Simmons was ready by 4am.
James, 34, said he was honoured to mentor a player like Simmons and act like a big brother to an up-and-coming star.
Simmons for his part says he is able to approach James with any question on his mind and can look to James for solid advice.
And that advice seems to have paid off for Simmons throughout his run.
The hot-shot led his high school Montverde Academy to three straight national championships and was ranked the No.1 player in his age group across the country in 2015.
When Simmons left Louisiana State University, agents were approaching him from left, right and centre.
From a Bentley to a Rolls Royce to jewellery - Simmons has been offered everything to play for the teams hungry for him.
As it stands his contract with the 76ers comes up for renegotiation by mid this year.
He could sign a five-year extension with a reported $223 million.
That's another slam dunk you can add to Simmon's track record.
Simmons for his part says he is able to approach James with any question on his mind and can look to James for solid advice
The hot-shot led his high school Montverde Academy to three straight national championships and was ranked the No.1 player in his age group across the country in 2015
