Ben Simmons: ‘I’m the best rookie in the league’

By Brandon Apter, Sports Talk Philly editor

The Sixers are just a short while away from facing the Celtics in London, but beforehand, the media caught up with Ben Simmons, who is widely considered by many as the favorite for Rookie of the Year. The former LSU standout will go head-to-head with another impressive rookie on Thursday in Jayson Tatum, but don't expect Simmons to have a hard time claiming who the best rookie is this year. Hint: it isn't Tatum.

"I want to be an All-Star honestly so if I'm an All-Star, I'd feel like rookie of the year," Simmons told reporters ahead of Philadelphia's clash with the Celtics in London on Thursday.

"I don't really look into that too much. I know I'm the best rookie in the league." [Yahoo Sports UK]

Simmons, 21, is averaging an impressive 16.9 points, 8.4 rebounds and 7.5 assists per game, shooting 51 percent from the floor. He leads all rookies in rebounds, assists, steals (1.92), double-doubles (18) and triple-doubles (4) while ranking second among first-year players in scoring, behind only Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz. Simmons' 7.5 assists average is good for sixth best in the NBA and his 1.92 steals is good for seventh.  Ben's four triple-doubles are third best in the NBA, behind just Russell Westbrook (14) and LeBron James (7).