After high school, Simmons had looks from a few big colleges, but he didn’t have the grades to get in. So he hopped from Paris Junior College to Midland College before signing with UH, where he spent one year before declaring for the NBA draft.
Family comes first
Simmons was a father - he had three daughters at that point and wanted to provide for them. Another year in college wasn’t helping him financially.
Man, I hate they keep pushing that “he paid $150 for the Austin Toros tryout”, it’s not true. The D-League themselves started that to get more basketball players to register for their open tryouts and make more money. Good story aside from that flaw.
You would be correct. He was critical of the coaching staff in a semi-recent interview, which I guess is justified.
I’m happy for the dude and am a fan of his story, but I don’t feel too attached to him either. Obviously it was a financial decision, but I thought he was a fool for declaring for the NBA draft when he did because he wasn’t that impressive.
It’s impressive how he bounced around overseas and managed to impress Popovich and get in the Spurs system. I wish him well anytime he isn’t playing the Rockets.
Simmons did train at the new development center this offseason. Saw Lanny Smith mentioned him being there. As far as I know, the current coaches welcome him.
Of course, he’s UH’s only NBA player at the moment…
These guys always have one or two people whispering in their ear about the grass being greener somewhere else. There was a recent article in a sport magazine about so many NBA players leaving the game broke. It’s due in large part to these people holding on for dear life and sucking the blood out of them. By now we are well aware of this but it never seems to change. If ever a kid needed a few years under a coach like Sampson it was this Simmons.
He needed the money. 3 kids and a wife and he was hoping for an international contract. He worked on his craft and ended up in a good system in San Antonio that excentuates a player’s strengths.
