In just his fourth regular season game, Philadelphia 76ers point guard Ben Simmons notched his first career triple-double against the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.
It has since created much chatter and praise around the league toward the 22-year-old that now includes Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James, according to Dave McMenamin of ESPN.
LeBron James on Ben Simmons notching a triple-double in just his fourth game as a pro: “It’s the first of many for him. He’s a triple threat, ability to score in transition, rebound and pass the ball. His passing is his best quality and high basketball IQ. So, it’s the first of many triple-doubles for the young guy.”
Simmons’ impressive performance put him among some of the game’s best players as he joined Hall of Famer Oscar Roberston as the only players in league history to average more than 10.0 points, 10.0 rebounds, and 5.0 assists in through the first four games of their career. He was also the first player since Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal to notch a double-double in each of his first four games.
The 2016 first overall pick has shown a tremendous ability to impact the game as a distributor with his court vision and passing. It has also opened up the floor for him to find his own shot while also remaining a strong source of rebounding. Although it has been just four games, there is certainly much reason for optimism moving forward.
There is a close connection between James and Simmons given that the 76ers guard is signed to the Klutch Sports Group, which is headed by James’ friend Rich Paul. In the time since then, there has been a growing bond that should continue to cultivate moving forward.