NBA Draft 2016: Ben Simmons must show Philadelphia 76ers why he is the chosen one

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Now he has been taken by Philadelphia with the No.1 draft pick, the hard work truly begins - is Ben Simmons ready for the burden of great expectations?

He has his chance to show he has the talent and demeanour to be an elite star with franchise-changing abilities. 

When NBA commissioner Adam Silver read out Simmons' name first on draft day it capped off a remarkable rise for the Melbourne-born teenager but also signalled the start of a whole new life under basketball's brightest - and harshest - spotlight.

Great expectations: Ben Simmons. Photo: Getty Images

Simmons has won the race for the coveted honour of the top pick ahead of Duke's Brandon Ingram, who was taken second by the Los Angeles Lakers.

The Boomers prodigy has instantaneously earned recognition from coast to coast in the basketball world, but that is accompanied by often overwhelming expectations for that player to turn around a struggling franchise. 

Fans at easybeat teams naturally view a top pick as the saviour. Anything less than fulfilling that mammoth task will be viewed as a failure. 

Top choice: Ben Simmons with commissioner Adam Silver after being drafted first overall by the Philadelphia 76ers. Photo: Getty Images

No team has racked up more losses in recent years than the Little Tank Engine that Couldn't known as the Philadelphia 76ers. 

Simmons links with ex-Boomers coach Brett Brown at the Sixers, joining a lopsided roster full of talented young lottery-pick behemoths who have not yet made the jump from being exciting prospects to certain stars. 

Last year's No.3 overall pick Jahlil Okafor proved in his rookie season he can be very good offensively but his defensive limitations meant he was streets behind Minnesota's rookie of the year Karl-Anthony Towns. 

Massive hops:, LSU forward Ben Simmons dunks. Photo: Hilary Scheinuk

Philly's No.3 from the previous draft, Joel Embiid, is an unknown quantity who is supposed to have untold quality but still hasn't been able to lace up a boot for his first NBA game due to injuries. 

Their previous lottery selection, yet another big in Nerlens Noel acquired via a trade with New Orleans, went from a likely top pick to No.6 in the 2013 draft after a knee injury, and has shown enough to suggest he will be a solid defensive specialist but not the game changer that Philadelphia desperately desire.

Then there's Dario Saric, another power forward, who is renowned for his shooting. The 22-year-old Croatian was selected in the lottery by the Sixers two years ago but has been stashed away in Europe developing his game.

So as it stands, Simmons is one of five young front-court tyros with little support on the wings or from the guards unless the 76ers release the moths from their wallets. Okafor is reportedly on the trading block although his value is low after an underwhelming, and occasionally erratic off-court, rookie season.

Even if they do pursue big names in free agency, very few blue-chip free agents will view Philadelphia as a desirable landing spot until they lift their winning percentage above laughable levels.  

Simmons has inked a deal with LeBron James' management company Klutch Sports and there were whispers that his agents were saying their prodigy wasn't keen to become a 76er. Although that was silenced when he worked out for Brown at Sixers HQ on Tuesday.

The pre-draft scuttlebutt didn't faze Philly anyway. There were similar whispers 12 months ago about Towns taking his talents to Minneapolis. It didn't stop the Timberwolves taking him and with teammates like Andrew Wiggins and Zach LaVine now under the guidance of coach/franchise overlord, Tom Thibodeau, the Wolves are viewed as the team with the biggest upside over the next five years. 

Attitude has surprisingly popped up recently as a potential drawback for Simmons. There were accusations during his modest college stint with LSU that Simmons lacked killer instinct.

Simmons refutes this. He knew his jump-shot was not yet fully formed so he concentrated on defence, dunking and his passing game but lacked the teammates to take LSU into the NCAA tournament. 

With such an inexperienced roster it will take time for Simmons and his youthful cohorts to become a legitimate force in the NBA. Philadelphia fans have shown the patience of Jobe (the opposite of Kobe) in recent years waiting for their woeful team to hit the jackpot in the draft.

They finally have their No.1 man so they'll expect wins to flow sooner rather than later.

Now he has his chance to show he has the talent and demeanour to be an elite star with franchise-changing abilities.

It's up to Simmons to prove he deserved to be the chosen one.