Ben Simmons is one of only two LSU players to be taken No. 1 overall in the NBA draft, the other being Hall-of-Famer Shaquille O’Neal. And through four games, the Philadelphia 76ers rookie has successfully matched an impressive on-court feat last accomplished by his fellow Tigers alum.
Simmons picked up his fourth-straight double-double against the Detroit Pistons on Monday, making him the first player since O'Neal to do so in his first four career games, per ESPN Stats and Info.
Ben Simmons is the first player since Shaquille O'Neal to record a double-double in each of his first 4 career games. pic.twitter.com/E6nRxE9CTY
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) October 24, 2017
Ben Simmons actually went one step further, as he recorded his first career triple-double with 21 points, 12 rebounds, and 10 assists to lead the Sixers to their first win of the season.
The Sixers rookie is making up for lost time after missing all of last year with a foot injury and is having a truly sensational start to his career. He’s now averaging 17 points, 10.8 rebounds, and seven assists through his first four games.
It’s obviously still early days, but Ben Simmons is a clear frontrunner for Rookie of the Year, especially if he keeps up his impressive double-double streak. If Simmons does eventually win the award, it’ll be yet another accomplishment he can share with Shaquille O'Neal, who won it in the 1992-93 season.