After a workout for the Suns on Monday, Arizona guard Kobi Simmons kept looking forward Monday – to his professional life and to playing point guard.
“I was relying on another player and now I’m taking the ball down the court and the team is relying on me,” Simmons told reporters after the workout, according to audio provided by the Suns. “So it’s being a vocal leader and showing what I can do on the pick and roll, and the intensity I show on the court.”
Simmons said he received “great feedback” after playing the point at the NBA Combine, and has spent the predraft process showcasing himself there. He’s projected as the No. 58 pick according to Draft Express, though when asked if he ever wonders “what if?” (he isn’t drafted), Simmons didn’t go there.
“Nah, I don’t even think about it,” Simmons said. “I’m locked and loaded. Right now, I’ve just gotta focus on me grinding it, raising my stock every day and looking forward to my next goal.”
Simmons said he talked with former teammate Rawle Alkins about Alkins’ decision, and that Alkins made a great decision for him to return to Arizona. Simmons said he was “leaning toward going back a little bit” even though he signed with an agent in April and left irrevocably.
“It was really tough,” Simmons said. “I loved my time at Arizona and you gotta think about you’re not going back so it was very tough.”
Later, Simmons said of his decision, “I felt I was ready. I felt like now is the time.”
The Suns have picks at No. 4, 32 and 54. Among others they invited to Monday's workout: Villanova's Josh Hart, Utah's Kyle Kuzma and Baylor's Johnathan Motley.
