NBA Draft: Melbourne's Ben Simmons Is First Pick; Snagged By Philadelphia 76ers

Aussie-born baller Ben Simmons has been selected by the Philadelphia 76ers with the first pick at the 2016 NBA draft.

The 19-year-old becomes Melbourne's third number one NBA Draft pick in 12 years, following Andrew Bogut and Kyrie Irving. That means Melbourne has produced more modern-era number one picks than any other city in the world. (Sydney loses again.)

He wasn’t even the only Aussie to make the cut, with Thon Maker - a Sudanese refugee who came to Perth aged six - nabbed by the Milwaukee Bucks as the Draft’s tenth selection.

Simmons, who spent the past college season with Louisiana State University, now heads to the worst team in the NBA (as happens to most first picks). The 76ers have notched just 28 wins to 136 losses over the past two seasons.

Still, as ABC News reports, Simmons is “looking forward to getting to Philly”.

“I’m happy the Sixers chose me,” he said.

"I feel relaxed and I'm comfortable with the system. [The Sixers have] great coaches, great people, great young players."

It also helps that Simmons is expected to earn more than $US25 million from his Sixers deal, and already has a $US20 million sponsorship with Nike. In Aussie dollars? Dude’s banking about $AUD60 million.

Boom-shaka-laka.

Watch Simmons explain his accent to Jimmy Fallon on NBA Draft Eve.

Photo: Facebook / NBA.