Former NBA number one draft pick Anthony Bennett has warned Australian star Ben Simmons to ignore the hype and hope he lands with a team whose system fits his style of play.

The Toronto forward has struggled to live up to his billing as the first pick from the famously weak 2013 draft and the Raptors are already the third team he has played for — having been traded by Cleveland to Minnesota as part of the deal that returned LeBron James to the Cavaliers in 2014.

The 22-year-old became the first Canadian to become the first overall pick in the NBA draft when he was selected by the Cavaliers, but his on-court struggles have led to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV) product being labelled one of the biggest busts in 20 years.

Melbourne-born Simmons is starring for Louisiana State University and widely tipped to become the first overall pick from the college since Shaquille O'Neal in 1992.

Bennett admits he found the step up from college huge and the learning curve steeper than he anticipated when he joined a struggling Cleveland side whose system was vastly different to what he experienced at UNLV.

He warned Simmons to expect extra pressure when his name is read out by NBA Commissioner Adam Silver at the draft in June.

"It's not just about being in the first round it's about being in a team that fits you," Bennett said in London ahead of Friday's (AEDT) NBA clash between the Raptors and Orlando Magic.

"You don't really have any say about where you go and it is pretty much all determined in the pre-draft, they just make the hard decisions a few hours before.

"People often don't look at the bigger picture and can be quick to write you off when things don't start well immediately.

"But being the number-one pick is a great opportunity and a huge accomplishment and, if it is Simmons, it'll be a very proud moment for him and his family like it was for me."

Simmons is facing hype earlier than Bennett, whose number-one selection was such a shock that analyst Bill Simmons' cry of "Woah!" live on-air as Bennett made his way on to the stage has become unfortunately linked to the Canadian's career.

No undue pressure on foreign players: Bennett

This year's draft in New York could mark the second time an Australian has been taken with the first pick, following trailblazing centre Andrew Bogut, who went first to Milwaukee in 2005.

A trade to the Golden State Warriors during the 2011/12 season gave his career new life and last year brought him an NBA championship but Bogut, 31, had been labelled something of a bust earlier in his career following a run of injuries.

Bennett denied there is any extra expectation to perform on players born outside of the USA.

"It was not a problem I encountered being from Canada and he (Simmons) won't either," he said.

"There's guys from all over the world playing in the NBA. He'll just be focusing on being right mentally and physically to fulfil his dream.

"It's a big adjustment stepping up to the NBA and you have to learn fast but I am sure he'll be fine.

"I hear he's a pretty nice player."

Simmons is set to become the eighth Australian representative in the NBA when he is drafted.

AAP/ABC