The Sixer Sense
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Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons: fad or new NBA era?

Bret Stuter|
CAMDEN, NJ - SEPTEMBER 25: Ben Simmons #25, Joel Embiid #21 and Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers pose for the camera during the Philadelphia 76ers Media Day on September 25, 2017 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
CAMDEN, NJ - SEPTEMBER 25: Ben Simmons #25, Joel Embiid #21 and Markelle Fultz #20 of the Philadelphia 76ers pose for the camera during the Philadelphia 76ers Media Day on September 25, 2017 at the Philadelphia 76ers Training Complex in Camden, New Jersey.NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)
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Fad or fortune? Beginner’s luck or just that good? Philadelphia 76ers Ben Simmons is inventing a new path for big men with ball crazy skills in the NBA. But is he a new NBA era, or just a rookie on a hot fad?

Collectors know the difference between a fad versus an era. Nobody invested in pet rocks, and far too many amateurs invested in Beanie Babies. But they were fads. Now, the smart money invests in true value: stamps, coins, etc. But some make fortunes on comic books – a symbol of an era of American History. So too the NBA has fads and eras.  But the question on the minds of Philadelphia 76ers fans is fundamental: Is Ben Simmons an NBA streak, or the beginning of a new NBA era?

Simmons is not a product of NBA hype. He is playing on a team which only won 10 games just two seasons ago, and just 28 games last season. No national sports network will risk over-sensationalizing a player on the Philadelphia 76ers roster. But Ben Simmons is not just any players.