It may have happened a year late, but on Wednesday night, Ben Simmons finally made his debut for the Philadelphia 76ers. After fully recovering from the Jones Fracture he suffered during training camp last year, the former number one overall pick played his first regular season game for the team, and was able to showcase his brilliant all-around game.

When asked how he felt being available to play on the night, Simmons joked that he thought he was only playing NBA 2K. However, he quickly turned serious by saying he still could not believe he’s made it this far, and that he had a lot of fun during the game.

“It felt like I was playing 2K honestly,” Simmons said. “Just looking at [Joel] Embiid out there with the lights on his jersey. I was like, ‘Man, I'm actually here.' It's fun. I'm enjoying it. Lot of games left.”

The former LSU star finished the game with a solid stat line of 18 points, 10 rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block. He even played point guard in many stretches, which shows how versatile he is, even if he stands 6-foot-10. However, it wasn’t enough to win the game against the Washington Wizards, as they came short, 120-115. The good news for them though is he played well in his first game, and could carry a lot of momentum with him in their next contests.

If the Sixers prodigy can sustain his strong performance throughout the season, it will be a huge boost to the Sixers, as they look to contend for a playoff spot in Eastern Conference. Ben Simmons could also establish himself as a future star in the league, and let his team know that he is worth the wait.