By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Besides the Sixers tremendous run to the playoffs, the other headline surrounding the team for the better part of the season has been the Ben Simmons vs. Donovan Mitchell Rookie of the Year debate. While many believe it's not really a race at all or that Simmons isn't a true rookie, the fact is that we have two amazing young talents that are going to be very fun to watch for years to come. It's only fitting that the year's two best rookies, Simmons and Mitchell, earned Rookie of the Month awards for their respective conference for games played in March/April.
Simmons takes hom his third straight Rookie of the Month award in the East and his fourth overall this season. In 23 games during the months of March/April, the former LSU product helped lead the Sixers to an NBA-best record of 20-3, posting averages of 13.7 points, 10.1 assists and 9.3 rebounds. In that span, Simmons tallied six triple-doubles, most notably a 27-point, 15-rebounds and 13-assist night against King James and the Cavs that helped Philadelphia claim the three seed in the Eastern Conference. The rookie point guard was also crowned Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played between April 3-8.
Overall on the season, Simmons averaged 15.8 points, 8.2 assists and 8.1 rebounds. He's the second player ever to achieve those numbers since Oscar Robertson averaged 30.5 points, 10.1 rebounds and 9.7 assists back in 1960-61.
Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell was the recipient of the award in the West for the fourth consecutive month. He averaged 22.8 points, 4.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists in 21 games over a 17-4 stretch for the Jazz.
