Philadelphia 76ers select Ben Simmons with first overall pick in NBA draft

Ben Simmons was selected number one overall by the Philadelphia 76ers

Philadelphia selected Ben Simmons with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2016 NBA draft on Thursday evening, making the Australian forward the 76ers' first top pick since Allen Iverson 20 years ago.

Simmons, 19, is also the third Australian-born player taken first overall - joining Kyrie Irving (2011) and Andrew Bogut (2005) - after averaging 19.2 points, 11.8 rebounds and 4.8 assists for Louisiana State last season.

"It feels amazing, honestly," Simmons said. "I can't even - my legs were shaking when I was on stage.

"Anything you want to do, you can do. I've been wanting to do that since I was five, six, seven and I've finally accomplished that." 

He has his work cut out, moving to a team that has compiled a dismal 47-199 record since 2013.

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers chose small forward Brandon Ingram with the second overall pick, while the Boston Celtics made forward Jaylen Brown the third pick at the Barclays Center arena.

Brandon Ingram of Duke University was selected second overall by the Los Angeles Lakers

Ingram averaged 17.3 points and 6.8 rebounds in his lone season with Duke University. It was the Lakers' first pick in the post-Kobe Bryant era.

"You kind of feel pressure, but it's a good pressure, of course," Ingram said. "It gives you motivation and the potential to be someone like Kobe Bryant and some of the greats in the league." 

The Celtics had obtained their pick from Brooklyn in the 2013 Kevin Garnett-Paul Pierce trade. Brown averaged 14.6 points and 5.4 rebounds in his only season with California.

With the fourth pick, the Phoenix Suns selected Bosnian forward Dragan Bender, who averaged 14.4 points and 10.4 rebounds in 25 games for Israel's Maccabi Tel Aviv.

Ingram shares a joke with Jaylen Brown (left), who was selected third by the Boston Celtics

Minnesota had the fifth pick and used it on Providence guard Kris Dunn. He was a two-time Big East player of the year and defensive player of the year.

Forward Serge Ibaka and guard Victor Oladipo were the biggest names moved during the draft, with the Oklahoma City Thunder trading Ibaka to the Orlando Magic for Oladipo, forward Ersan Ilyasova and the rights to the No. 11 overall pick, forward Domantas Sabonis.

Marquese Chriss was the highest draft pick who found himself on the move Thursday. After being drafted by the Sacramento Kings with the No. 8 overall pick, he was dealt to the Phoenix Suns for the No. 13 pick and guard Bogdan Bogdanovic.