Ben Simmons has arrived — and he’s looking like the Philadelphia 76ers‘ first All-Star caliber guard since Jrue Holiday.
Pegging Ben Simmons into a certain position is pointless, but he has been the bona fide point guard for this Philadelphia 76ers team thus far. He’s pacing the offense, both in transition and in the halfcourt, while also playing legitimate minutes without another reliable ball handler on the floor.
Brett Brown has leaned heavily on Simmons, yet the 21-year-old has soared above expectations. Even as one of the most highly-touted No. 1 picks of this generation, a year off led many to forget just how special he was — and just how special he’ll be long term.
Simmons already looks the part of an elite primary creator at 6-foot-10, with defensive versatility and off-ball smarts that only add to his effectiveness. He manipulates defenses in ways not many plays can, and has proven himself to be a reliable everyday scorer without a jumper to fall back on.
Philadelphia 76ers
From his athletic tools to a trancendent basketball I.Q., Simmons is everything Sixers fans hoped he would be. He’s also playing like an All-Star. Not somebody who might be an All-Star, or somebody who should be an All-Star. Somebody who is an All-Star.
We’re obviously in the earlier stages of Simmons’ career, so some form of regression is still possible. He’s flawed without a jumper, and his role could lead to some fatigue as the season progresses. But this is the kind of talent everybody knew he had, and he seems settled into his niche as this Sixers’ team primary weapon.
Philly is going to continue feeding Simmons the ball, as he’s already averaging rookie class highs at 18.5 points and 9.6 rebounds per game — a near double-double average for somebody who spent all of last season in rehab.
He’s also dishing out 7.9 assists per game, which is the fifth best mark in the association.
On top of all of that, Simmons is one of the main reasons (aside from Joel Embiid, of course) for the Sixers 4-4 start. There isn’t anything overly glamorous about a .500 record, but the considering the youth, new pieces and tough schedule Philadelphia had to work through to get there, it’s reasonably impressive to be just one game outside the Eastern Conference playoff picture.
We’ve also seen the Sixers’ sputter when Simmons leaves the floor, which is another testament to just how valuable he is. The team is 3.5 points per game better when Simmons is playing, while the team sees a subtle boost in both offensive and defensive proficiency.
T.J. McConnell‘s (continued) breakout has helped soften the blow that comes with taking Simmons out of the game, but his gravity as a playmaker is something Brett Brown struggles to replicate nonetheless.
Even as a non-shooter, Simmons is providing versatility in every respect while taking on the bulk of the Sixers’ offensive burden. He’s responsible for initiating the majority of their offense, and has done so more effectively than most veterans — much less rookies.
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A near-double-double with almost eight assists per game seems All-Star worthy, and a weakened Eastern Conference only strengthens that cause. We’re seeing the evolution of a legitimate star, and that recognition may come sooner rather than later.