A day after being snubbed to play in the 2018 NBA All-Star Game, Philadelphia 76ers rookie Ben Simmons attacked the Chicago Bulls with reckless abandon while making history in the process. Simmons recorded 19 points, 17 rebounds, 14 assists, and two blocks to join Larry Bird as the only players in NBA history to reach those marks.
Ben Simmons finishes with 19 points, 17 rebounds, 14 assists, 2 blocks. the only other player to ever do that (since blocks were recorded) is …
Larry Bird
— tim cato (@tim_cato) January 25, 2018
The talented rookie from Australia was already on his way to a triple-double at the end of the first quarter and nabbed the statistical feat with 11:11 left in the third quarter.
Had Simmons logged one more assist, he would have been the first rookie in 50 years to record a triple-double with a minimum of 15 points, 15 rebounds, and 15 assists since Walt Frazier did it in 1968.
Ben Simmons was an assist away from becoming the first rookie with at least 15 points, 15 rebounds and 15 assists in a game since Walt Frazier in 1968. @BenSimmons25 @WaltFrazier
— Clevis Murray (@ClevisMurray) January 25, 2018
According to Sixers reporter Brian Seltzer, with his 19 points, 17 rebounds, and 14 assists, Simmons also pushed himself into another select company.
With 19 pts, 17 reb, and 14 ast, Ben Simmons joins Wilt Chamberlain as only players in Sixers history to reach those minimums in a single game.
Steve Francis is only other rookie in NBA history to hit the marks (25-17-14), for Houston in 2000.
[h/t @bball_ref] pic.twitter.com/UmTB1YZBFg— brianseltzer (@brianseltzer) January 25, 2018
Asked about being overlooked as an All-Star, Simmons says the following in a News.com.au article:
“..things happen; they happen for a reason. I wish I did make it but it’s hopefully going to be plenty more years.”
Despite not making it to the Sunday game of the All-Star Weekend, Simmons was among those selected to play in the 2018 NBA Rising Stars game together with his Sixers teammates Dario Saric and Joel Embiid. Finally, some good news that he could be grateful for.
“It’s an honour,” the Aussie said. “I’m blessed to be in that position and I’m glad that Dario and Joel could be with me. We have good young players and a great team, getting better together everyday. I’m just really excited.”
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