Former NBA champion Richard “Rip” Hamilton sees Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Philadelphia 76ers phenom Ben Simmons as the two rookies that have the best career trajectory among the members of the class of 2017.
Having played in the league for 14 years, Hamilton sure knows how to gauge today’s players.
In an article by Stuart Ballard for Express Sport, Hamilton raved about the qualities of Tatum and Simmons. The 3-time NBA All-Star says it’s likely that the Celtics youngster will have similar achievements as the Sixers' rookie.
Simmons is the favorite to win this season’s Rookie of the Year award. Averaging 16.9 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 7.5 assists per game, there’s no doubt that he has the makings of a future superstar. The 21-year-old point-forward is proving to be one of the most versatile players in the league.
Meanwhile, Hamilton is singing more praise toward the Celtics' first-year player.
“I think I’m more impressed by Tatum than Simmons because when he came in everybody assumed he would have the impact of a guy like a LeBron James,” Hamilton told Express Sport.
Unlike Simmons, Tatum wasn't expected to be this good right off the bat. He had to, though, because of the gruesome injury suffered by Gordon Hayward to open the season, and the former Duke Blue Devil has delivered.
He's averaging 13.9 points, 5.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.0 steal per contest. What's more impressive has been the fact that Tatum is doing all these within a stacked Celtics team that is comfortably sitting atop the Eastern Conference standings.
Furthermore, Tatum has displayed a rare calmness for a rookie in his situation. The pressure is even bigger for Tatum with all the expectations hanging around Boston, but he has drawn nothing but praise from coach Brad Stevens.
The Sixers and Celtics meet up in London as part of the NBA's Global Games edition.
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