Ben Simmons' rookie season has surpassed expectations and another unexpected feature of his game has been his competitive fire. The 6-foot-10 point-forward showed just that during today's game against the Toronto Raptors, expressing his frustration with opposing point guard Kyle Lowry, one that ended in a double ejection with six seconds left in the game.
The two exchanged some harsh words, getting separated by their respective teammates and ultimately assessed double technicals, as the jawing continued as they each headed back to their bench.
The young rookie didn't seem fazed by the confrontation or the ejection as his Sixers got the upper hand in their Martin Luther King Jr. Day matinee outing.
Article Continues Below“I think they're just trying to test me,” said Simmons, according to Jessica Camerato of NBC Sports Philly. “I don't know if they're trying to test me or see how I am on the court, but I don't play around. I'm not going to take s*** from anybody.”
Lowry is an 11-year veteran of the league and has been known to be a scrappy, bulldog-like individual at his position. While neither he or Simmons enjoyed a particular nice outing, the two's frustration came to a boil in the waning seconds of the Monday afternoon contest.
Simmons maintained nothing went down in the locker room, shooting down any potential encounter with Lowry after the conclusion of the game.
“I just went to the locker room,” Simmons said. “Nobody was back there.”
The former No. 1 pick has passed his first real test, even if it was against a 6-foot point guard, still unwilling to back down from his opponents.