SYDNEY — One recent morning, a father and son walked along Harris Street, just up a hill from the Sydney Harbor. The son held a basketball. Both wore replica NBA basketball jerseys. They'd just been breaking in the dad's new jersey, shooting hoops down the street on a playground court.
It was the father's birthday. Earlier that morning, the son had presented dad a 76ers jersey, featuring one of Australia's favorite exports.
While father and son acknowledged the many solid Aussie players who have succeeded in the NBA, Andrew Thompson spoke of Ben Simmons, the last name on his gifted jersey, being a cut above.