National Basketball Association

The Rise Of Jonathon Simmons

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

foxsports

From years in the D-League to a spot on the San Antonio Spurs’ roster, guard Jonathon Simmons has earned his position in the NBA.

Jonathon Simmons is the San Antonio Spurs‘ next sensation, but his journey to get to that point is quite remarkable. His spot on the Spurs’ roster can be described as a dream come true.

After playing only one season of Division I basketball for the University of Houston, Jonathon Simmons declared for the NBA draft in 2012.

But Simmons went undrafted and was later chosen in the first round of American Basketball League draft. Simmons averaged 36.5 points in 16 games with the ABL’s Sugar Land Legends.

But an open tryout with the Austin Toros of the D-League at Concordia University in 2013 was Simmons’ last shot at the NBA dream. The only requirement was a $150 registration fee.

Although that tryout is usually the last stop for inexperienced players wanting to be in the NBA, Simmons was able to make the team’s training camp roster and eventually the opening night roster.

He told NBA.com that the experience of the tryout remains with him.

“I try to focus on moving forward, but I still think back to that tryout all the time. Walking in with all those guys, trying to figure out a way to stand out.”

Fast forward two years later and Simmons is showcasing his skills for the Spurs’ summer league team, still hoping for that one chance.

In the Summer League championship game Simmons scored 23 points, three rebounds, three assists and two steals to lead the Spurs to a victory. Simmons’ hard work was cemented with his performance. He even grabbed the attention of Gregg Popovich.

“He sees things; the second or third iteration. You can see the first guy that’s open, but sometimes he sees something else developing on the floor”, said Popovich according to My San Antonio.com. “That’s hard to coach. I don’t know if you can coach it. It’s just a natural affinity for that part of the game, and he has that.”

Simmons was later signed to a two-year, $1.4 million contract. His mission of getting to the NBA was accomplished. For Simmons, the journey was a learning experience and one to never forget.

But for Simmons’ mother, LaTonya Simmons, the journey is quite surreal.

“This is one of those stories you see in a movie, but this is not somebody else’s story. I’m looking at the TV, and that is my child on the screen.”

It is Simmons’ journey and hard work that made him the Spurs’ hero in the 129-100 annihilation of the Golden State Warriors last week. Simmons scored 20 points, three assists and four rebounds in that game.

In addition to his statistical output, Simmons’ career performance was represented by a chase-down block of Stephen Curry (reminiscent of a similar play by LeBron James in the Finals).

From trying to find enough money to pay the $150 for a D-League tryout to having the performance of his career in the NBA, Simmons remains true to the process.

“Just focus and doing whatever my team needed me to do,” he said. “That’s basically it. Just being prepared to play. I’m just doing whatever my team and Pop ask me to do. I’m just staying ready for my opportunity and taking advantage.”

So the next time Simmons comes off the bench for Ryan Anderson, there will be no doubt that he will take advantage of every play, even those chase-down blocks of one of the best players in the league.