BEN Simmons may be starring on the NBA stage, but he knows he wouldn't be where he is without Australia's proven junior development programs.
"I think it gave me a lot of structure being back in Australia and just learning that game and style of play," Simmons told The Sunday Telegraph. 
"It helped me grow a lot as the player I am today.
"Being back in Australia and playing the European style of play helped me translate over to here (America) as a team player.
"Passing is one of the main things that I do and it transfers over here." Simmons has no doubts his perfectly executed passes can be attributed to years of coaching in the Australian system.
It was an invaluable tuition that started at age seven in the Newcastle Hunters' under-12 representative team. This paved the way for Simmons to attract significant attention from several coaches.
He moved back to Melbourne three years later for family reasons and by 15 he was known as a player with enormous potential while playing for Box Hill Senior Secondary College.
Just months after picking up a scholarship at the Australian Institute of Sport in 2012, a 15-year-old Simmons led Australia to a silver medal at the FIBA Under-17s World Championships.
Simmons was clearly a player destined for big things and it's why he relocated to the United States a year later to attend Montverde Academy.
From here he never looked back. After a successful stint at Montverde, he went on to star at college with Louisiana State University.
Now he is impressive in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers. It's a tale of hard work and persistence Simmons hopes can inspire the next generation to follow in his footsteps.
"I think it has given guys more of a gateway to come over here and play and be represented," he says."You also get more of a view of players, especially it doesn't matter who you are in Australia. I think for kids it really gives them a chance to get out there and play for a college team or their high school team and get accustomed to the style of play."