[valentine]

I’m no bodybuilder but I’ve done my fair share of weightlifting. So I’m aware of just how impressive Ben Simmons claims of 33lb weight gain is, over a 3 mth period. 

Apparently, a little too impressive for the liking of his close friend Dante Exum, who suggests Simmons might be guilty of stretching the truth. 

Yet, in todays world of ‘Sports Science’ and ‘Supplementation’, is this impressive weight gain possible if given access to Lebrons training staff. 

Particularly since Simmons has been hanging with Lebron, D-Wade and the ‘ageless’ Richard Jefferson over summer. Lebron adds and loses muscle easier than anyone Ive ever seen.

I also noticed how jacked Joel Embiid got when he couldnt work out properly due to his injury. 

Whilst it probably sounds weird to be talking about young mens physiques, I’m keen to get a consensus. 

Since people disagree with whatever I write regardless, I’m gonna leave my opinion out til later.

Question: Is it possible that Ben Simmons added 33lbs since draft day? Check pics if you must. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Robb_CParticipant]

doubtful but at 6’8 and his size its possible.. Protein Mass Gainers loaded with carbs can bloat someone out quickly and can add weight. If hes doing it this way with a high carb/protein diet he could load on weight quick.. My question to him is whats the rush to add size?! Hes going to come into camp looking like a fat POS and it will take a toll on his energy levels due to the fact his body has shot his insulin levels up and now will start storing fat. So the 33 pounds is very possible its just cheap weight due to him spiking his insulin levels and his body storing more fat..

[SubZeroParticipant]

I gained 25 pounds of (mostly) muscle the summer after I graduated high school, but that was the first time I really got to work out for real for an extended period of time because my coach my whole life had no idea what he was doing, so I was basically a clean slate starting off. But if I could do something close to it without all the professional help he has, I’m sure it’s possible

[Robb_CParticipant]

 Just looked at the photos, he looks like put on decent size id say 15 to 20.. 33 was probably his top weight before he started to cut back down

[r377Participant]

While I initially laughed that someone could put on 33lbs naturally in only 3 months, I decided to look a bit further into it.

Looking at his photos in college he was very skinny. He looks to put on some size, whether it was exactly 33lbs or slightly exaggerated we don’t know, if it was 3 mths or 4/5mths only Ben really knows….

He has put on some size and from memory his dad dave was quite solid/muscular, so its possibly he does fill out quite nicely just like his dad

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 33 lbs in 3 months?!?!  HA.  He is on the Jose Conseco weight lifting program I see.  

Something to watch for over the next few years with Simmons will be his hat size.  If the end of his college career was any indication he doesn’t love hard work and is the perfect candidate to take a short cut.

Oy Oy Oy!!

 

 

 

[negguaryParticipant]

The Lakers didn’t have the chance to get him I see LOL!!! Jealousy is a weak emotion you’ve got to overcome that!!

[Magic JordanParticipant]

 No, it was mostly to ruffle the feathers of my Aussie mate above.  Simmons is a physical freak, and I love his game.  I think he is going to be great.  The only player on the 76ers roster that I would say that about.

With that being said, I am completely content with Ingram.  Fills a need better than Simmons would have.  Just as much potential if not more and doesn’t have to pound the ball to be effective as Simmons will.

Can’t wait to see the Simmons, Saric, Noel, Okafor, Embiid lineup though.  Should be revolutionary!

 

 

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Come on guys read the article. Simmons stated he came into LSU at 217 and is now 250. He’s saying he gained 33 pounds in a year which is quite the feat but much more possible than 33 pounds in 3 years.

[Hype Machine]

I read that was the gain since the draft.

[OhCanada-Participant]

 Yah I see that now my bad. Alot of media outlets reported that but the ones quoting him have it correct. The combine officially weighed him at 239. 3 months ago. Crazy how much misinformation there is out there.

[Chilbert arenasParticipant]

 I guess adding all this weight can put the question of him playing SF to bed…? 

But in all seriousness, he’s only 20 so he’ll continue to add functional strength. I just hope its the right kind of weight. What I mean is Dwight added all this bulk to his upper body but his legs were never as strong as they could have been. 

 

[mikeyvthedonParticipant]

I think Dante Exum has every right to be skeptical of this one. As most probably should be given that in many cases, we have no idea how much a player truly weighs. I remember when people were going bonkers over the Kevin Durant 6’11-6’9-7’0 thing, I think player weights are even further fabricated than heights. With height you can at least kind of use the eye test when they are playing amongst their peers, with weight, we sometimes deal with whatever they are listed at during the NBA Draft Combine. Many of these players come in as boys and of course grow into men. Or do not want people knowing how much or little they weigh. But, lets just deal with Ben Simmons.

One thing we do know is that he weighed in at 239 lbs at the 2015 Nike Hoop Summit in April, only to be measured at 229 lbs in late June at the Nike Skills Academy. These are both not necessarily set in stone, though those that saw Simmons at either are probably not arguing he was at the very least well over 220-225. Than, we have this tweet from Chad Ford giving his measurements:

https://twitter.com/chadfordinsider/status/738041668860059648

The number we see here is 240 lbs. Now, while it is pretty interesting that Simmons lost 10 pounds so quickly from the Hoop Summit to the Nike Skills Academy, there is very little to indicate that he proceeded to lose 12 more while at LSU. Also, while his camp probably gave Ford those numbers (with the wingspan and reach both being very legit in terms of measurements I trust greatly), I doubt Ben was secretly checking in at 217. While this tweet was on June 1, I doubt the stress of the draft or wanting to look as slender as possible in a suit were cause for him to drop to 217 before June 23.

My guess? Ben was probably at 240 his entire time at LSU, or floating somewhere around there. He probably was above 240 at that given time and they gave Ford a nice round number. Either way, his being 250 lbs should not be too surprising and he certainly looks the part. He also looked the part of being anywhere from 235-245 at LSU, so who really knows how much he weighed. If he truly did gain 10 lbs of mostly muscle since June 1, that is a great sign going into his rookie season. I am guessing he either did that (gain the 10) or maybe gain less, rather than anywhere in the 20-35 lbs range.

To be fair, the stories of Brandon Ingram’s huge weight gain once he got onto Duke’s campus were equally strange. Remember when they said he gained 23 lbs since July 1, 2015 at Duke? Which "would put him around 190?" Meaning, if math is a thing, that would have meant he weighed in at a whopping 167 lbs on July 1 (Coach K’s statement was tweeted about October 6)? Now, once again, lets bring up what he weighed in at the 2015 Nike Hoop Summit: 196 lbs. Now, the weight might be off. But 29 lbs off? I am going to say, Duke might’ve been a tad off on their whole weight tracking process.

One final thing to add, why not give this all context? What do I mean by that? Why not link to the actual article or give attribution to whoever typed out this content? Dante Exum is attributed, well done, but why not post the article or tweet so we all see it straight from the source, rather than have to look up all of the details? If the original poster doesn’t do so, than it is absolutely fine if someone else does just to give context to the story, it only helps. So, here are a couple links with the story:

http://www.sportal.co.nz/nba/exum-calls-out-simmons-over-muscle-gain-claims/1oo3zq290a97z1mijj4tup1k19

http://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/dante-exum-isnt-buying-that-ben-simmons-gained-30-plus-pounds/

It seems like Simmons initially told Jessica Camerato (CSN Philly) about being "near 250", where she than gives the 217 pre-draft number (which she got from Simmons? Or, ah, I’m blanking). At which point Dante Exum does the math (based on the numbers "217" and "250") and goes, "REALLY?" (dramatic reenactment). We will have other fun weight loss or gain stories throughout this early process. Here is one featuring Josh Jackson and Udoka Azubuike:

http://www.kansascity.com/sports/college/big-12/university-of-kansas/article98742312.html

Now, if Udoka is indeed 275 lbs, than kudos. He weighed in at a generous "299" at the Hoop Summit this year, with a 27 lb loss at least putting him in the 275 range. With Jackson, he was weighed in at 202.6 lbs, round it up to 203. Where they got the "gained 17 lbs" is from most likely, old outdated HS profiles (hell, if you go to Prolfic Preps website, they list him at 200, so it must be way old and outdated).

All in all, my point is that if something is too good to be true, it likely is. There are usually ways of plotting a players development and sometimes, writers are just not given resources for the players proper weight to begin with (though when it comes to guys who have been measured at the Hoop Summit, it seems like you would at least want to check them out). Even so, an injured Nerlens Noel went from 216 at the 2012 Nike Hoop Summit to 206 at the 2013 NBA Draft Combine. Still, he was rehabbing from an injury, and he didn’t go from 216 to 194 (just kinding of barbing on the Simmons 239 to 217 claim). Nerlens seemed at least like a guy who would have a tough time adding and keeping on weight. Simmons does not. It is great that he is 250 lbs, I believe him. I just think it did not necessarily happen by him gaining 33-35 lbs, as opposed to 5-10 lbs. We at least have a decent gauge of where he weighs in the 240-250 lb range, which is more than we have on a number of other players.

[ashock34Participant]

 He is a big boy! Up close and personal, he seemed to me to be all of 6’10" and about the same weight and height as Okafor. Okafor, by the way, looks awesome. Someone must have gotten in his ear about being out of shape bc he looks like he lost about 10lbs and is more cut. Ben also was proud to say that he now can shoot the rock. Must be nice to be tutured by Bron and Wade all summer. This is going to be one big lineup. I mean biggest in the NBA. But not just big. Big and talented. I expect Noel to be gone as soon as they can get a decent package for him. Rashaun Holmes does so many of the things he does and is very cheap by comparison. Holy crap! standing next to Embiid was………. eye opening. When they say he is 7-2 believe me he is 7-2. The guy, if healthy, will be a beast. This is one scarey team. Right now they are going to give teams fits. After the draft next June I suspect all holes will be filled. Im thinking championship runs in years 2019-2025.  Cant wait to watch C’s vs. 76’ers Oct 4 at 7pm.

[Dazzling Dunks and Basketball BloopersParticipant]

 All I know is, I hope he’s been working as hard on improving his jump shot as he has been in the weight room. 

[McDunkin]

 I honestly thought Simmons was already heavier than the 215 or so LSU listed him as during his freshman year.

[NBAjunkie81Participant]

 He def filled out but most guys have that initial puberty growth spurt at 15, 16, 17

But then at 20ish we fill out — An average sized guy who is 5’9” or 5’10” might put on 15-20 lbs in that age range.

Simmons at 6’10” could easily put on 30 lbs…… But once the grind of the NBA season is 1/2 way thru I’d imagine he’ll lose some it 

& yea Joel Embiid is Jacked, Yoked….. Dude is a legit 7’2” & 275 lbs & his teammates have been going crazy seeing him in practice….. TJ McConnel tweeted "Embiid Flat out Dominant in practice" for example….

If this kid stays healthy, Phila has two Monsters in Simmons & Embiid – pretty amazing that Hinkie pulled this off in just 3 years

 

 

 

 

[brodiejayParticipant]

I was lucky enough to interview Simmons when LSU toured here (Brisbane, Australia) to play an exhibition as part of their preseason before his Freshman year.

 

I can definitely say that seeing him up close, there’s no way he weighed anything near 217 pounds. I particularly remember at that time thinking how massive his shoulders were, and that was before the college season started. He’s definitely all  of 6’10" and I think (at a guess) he’s put on about 10lb of muscle.  My guess was he was around 240 when I spoke to him but he sure wasn’t much less than that!!!

 

I hope his injury doesn’t keep him out for more than a couple of months, and hopefully he can continue working on his shot while he’s rehabbing.

 

As an Aussie NBA fan, I literally woke up to check out the hype about Ben Simmons ahead of Philly’s first game. I was so bummed when I saw the opposite of what I was hoping to read  🙁

 

 

[HitsterParticipant]

 You read a lot about actors bulking up for rolls and a lot of boxers walk around at a natural weight possibly 30lbs heavier than their fighting weight. Evander Holyfield when he moved up from Cruiserweight to Heavyweight went on a specialist weight gaining program. I’ve worked with a guy who was a keen amateur bodybuilder and he’d add a load of bulk prior to competitions and he was nothing like the size of Simmons. 

So for a large person like Simmons, I can see it being possible especially if he took some time off in the summer and gained weight naturally as well as being on a specialist program.

[Jaymes BrownParticipant]

 I recall he weighed 225 at the end of his college season. I can totally believe Simmons gained 15 lbs back to his preseason weight, and then gained an additional 4 lbs, since he weighed in at 244 with the 76ers.

That’s 19 lbs. Not sure why he felt the need to lie, but I could speculate about the dubious rigors of his offseason training habits.

 

 

 

 

 

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