The Sixer Sense
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Ben Simmons vs. Magic Johnson: Who was the better rookie?

By CHRISTIAN KLEMASH

PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 7: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - MAY 7: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers shoots the ball against the Boston Celtics during Game Four of the Eastern Conference Semifinals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 5, 2018 at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Comparing Philadelphia 76ers star Ben Simmons and Magic Johnson’s rookie seasons, the numbers are closer than you might think.

Ben Simmons (Rookie Season 2017-18)

FGFGAFG%REBASTPTSSTLTOV
6.712.3.5458.18.215.81.73.4

Magic Johnson (Rookie Season 1979-80)

FGFGAFG%REBASTPTSSTLTOV
6.512.3.5307.77.318.02.44.0

The Wizard of Aus vs. The Magic Man.  Along with many others, I’ve made this comparison more than once during the season, so I figured I’d take a look at the stats now that the Philadelphia 76ers’ season is officially over.  The numbers are strikingly similar, so close in fact that they are almost a mirror image of one another.

To go along with position (point guard), size (Simmons 6-10, Magic 6-9) and style of play (pass first, score second), Ben Simmons and Magic Johnson’s numbers are almost identical.

I know, the Lakers won the title in Magic’s rookie year and Magic was MVP of The Finals vs. the Sixers (I watched it and was heartbroken), but the ’79-80 Lakers had a better team than the 2017-18 Sixers.  Not to take anything away from Magic, but that Lakers team featured Hall of Famers Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Jamaal Wilkes, along with Michael Cooper and Norm Nixon.  They finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA.

Also, in my opinion, the NBA is better these days.  There was no single dominant team, like the current Golden State Warriors, at the end of the 1970s.  And these Sixers, in their first playoff appearance, were beaten by a Boston Celtics team who focused their defensive strategy around exploiting Simmons’ weaknesses.  It worked.

Simmons’ lack of a jump shot allowed Boston’s defense to sag off of him into the lane, where, when he did drive to the basket, he was facing multiple defenders, causing him to be tentative and indecisive. Don’t expect that same plan to work next year.  Simmons has five months of the offseason to work on that shot and then an entire season within which to hone it.  I expect he’s already started.

Similar to Simmons’ weaknesses being exploited this year, the 1980-81 Houston Rockets figured Magic out, eliminating the defending champs in the first round of the playoffs in Magic’s sophomore outing.  It happens, even to the best of them.  Magic, of course, adjusted and the Lakers came back to win the title again the following season, in ’81-82 (again against the Sixers).

Next year will be a big one for Ben Simmons.  If he is to embark on a career as successful as the Magic Man, he needs to study what Boston did to him and put in the hard work necessary to make them pay for giving him a 2-3 foot cushion every time down the floor.

So, who was the better rookie?  It’s hard to argue with a championship and Finals MVP.  But this is a long game, not a short one.  Michael Jordan didn’t win a title until his seventh season, and he finished with six rings to Magic’s five.

Next: Ranking the Sixers' top 5 assets

Do I see similar talent levels in Simmons to Magic and Mike?  Absolutely.  And Ben is only 21.