Kobe: Simmons 'has got to get a jump shot'

Kobe Bryant believes Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons is missing one crucial element to his otherwise stellar game.

"He's got to get a jump shot," Bryant told the Herald Sun, courtesy of Philly Voice. "It sounds stupid and all that but I'm dead-ass serious. Because if not, he will regret it when his career is over."

It wasn't all harsh criticism from the Los Angeles Lakers icon. Bryant commended the sophomore for his quick rise to stardom with the 76ers after leading them last season to their first Eastern Conference semifinals since 2012.

The 40-year-old Bryant recalled another former point guard who remodeled his shot over his career as a possible example for Simmons to draw from.

"Jason Kidd, when he came in the league, wasn't a great shooter, but he worked to the point where he became one of the best three-point shooters we've had in our league in history. That will be his next progression," Bryant said.

"That being said, even without that, he's been able to dominate and take that city of Philadelphia to a place where it hasn’t been in a very long time."

Now in his second NBA season, the inadequacy of Simmons' jump shot has become most apparent beyond the arc. The Australian has thrown up 1,776 field-goal attempts in 145 games and only 15 of those were from 3-point range. He has yet to convert a single one.