With 10 days left in the NBA regular season, play-off seeding in both conferences is still very much up for grabs. The Rookie of the Year race, however, is over.
Australian Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers and Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz have been jockeying for top rookie honours all season. Simmons received most of the attention early on before Mitchell surged in the middle of the campaign.
Both 21-year-olds have assumed leadership on their teams, both are guiding teams to unexpected play-off berths and both appear in nightly highlights packages.
But over the last several weeks, Simmons has elevated his game to a level not seen from a rookie since perhaps Magic Johnson, nearly 40 years ago.
“It’s getting a lot easier reading the plays and how guys will play with me and how they cut, where they want to get their shots from,” Simmons said after collecting 20 points, 15 assists and eight rebounds in Sunday’s win at Charlotte.
The 76ers (46-30) have won 21 of their last 26 games, including 10 in a row during which Simmons is averaging a triple-double – 13.2 points, 11.8 assists and 10.1 rebounds – while shooting 57 per cent from the field.
In the last nine games, the Sixers have eclipsed 30 assists, the fourth-longest streak in NBA history. And they have been doing it short-handed.
All-Star centre Joel Embiid of Cameroon has missed the last two games with a fractured orbital bone. On Sunday, scoring forward Dario Saric of Croatia sat out with a shoulder injury.
Sixers coach Brett Brown sees Simmons assuming more leadership for a young team that hasn’t experienced much recent success.
“I think his growth is certainly expedited when he looks over and our All-Star isn’t there,” Brown said. “His presence, his disposition and lately even more his voice I think reeks of leadership.”
Simmons has 11 triple-doubles, third behind only LeBron James (17) and Russell Westbrook (24). Among rookies, he is third in scoring (15.8) and leads in rebounding (8.0), assists (8.2), steals (1.7) and double-doubles (35).
Mitchell leads all rookies with 20.3 points for the Jazz (44-33), who are close to clinching a play-off berth. However, he has zero double-doubles and simply does not have the same all-around skills as Simmons.
Brown said he has enjoyed watching Simmons grow into a leader.
“He isn’t a man of many words and it’s fine. Everybody leads in different ways,” he said. “But when he’s got something to say, he says it and people hear that. And then he’s able to lead through example a lot, which certainly helps the package.”
Mushi
Guest
All star isn't exactly a valid statistical tool. Especially back in birds day
Mushi
Guest
So you think advanced stats are shaky... But all star voting is the utopian outcome of statistics.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
I didn't mean PG13 has been bad, I just mean lower than his normal level. Similar to Draymond who has also been good, just not at the level he has played at previously.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Yesterdays game might just Simmons over the top. He is now leading his team into a high position in the playoffs, beating LeBron on the way. On the triple double thing. Brett Brown has been resting him for the fourth quarter for a lot of games recently. I would think if he did play the full games he would have another 3-4 triple doubles. That is looking at what would have been 16 for the season. Not that triple doubles matter on their own but that is some effort in a rookie year.
Swampy
Guest
Paul George has been unbelievable - what are you basing his lesser defence on? Gobert and embiid massively effect opp fg% - Utah have been on a tear with Gobert back and it's not from his offence. Al Horford should get a mention as should Josh Richardson.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
DPoY is an odd one. The guys you normally automatically put in the conversation have just not been up to their normal standard (Draymond Green and Paul George) or out (Kawhi Leonard). Gobert and Embiid have been very impactful despite games missed (19 for Embiid and 26 for Gobert). That is partly why I like AD he has been blocking and stealing a lot and has only missed 7 games.
express34texas
Guest
Embiid for DPOY? Maybe he's in consideration, but must be a weak year for defenders. And he and Gobert have missed substantial time, and if they're the frontrunners(which they might be), that's not saying much for this year's options. Pop's a great coach still, but even with Kawhi being hurt so much, Aldridge is looking like a top 10ish player this season plus the rest of the team is still solid. Not championship solid, but still pretty good. Winning 45-48 games with that roster doesn't get me too excited. Lots of good choices for COY, but D'antoni should win handily. HOU's going to win 64-67 games, easily best in the league. Their previous franchise best was 57 wins.
Red Kev
Roar Guru
Other than MVP, none of the awards are really clear cut. DPoY is very close between Gobert and Embiid (although I think AD is a dark horse) - with Rudy likely to get the nod now Joel will miss the last few weeks of the regular season and their games/minutes played will end up being very similar. CoY is a wide open race with what Stevens has done in Boston, Pop in San Antonio, Quin Synder in Utah and Dwayne Casey in Toronto - all of those guys have a legit chance. Similarly RoY is very close between Simmons and Mitchell. Which of those two guys gets votes for RoY will depend on which narrative each individual voter prefers - both are worthy winners.
Swampy
Guest
While it doesn't count for ROY, might I point out that Magic also won a title and the NBA Finals MVP in his rookie season. No one else has ever done that. I couldn't care less if Simmons won ROY or not. Titles (and hopefully Olympic medals) will be what matter at the end of his career because he is the consumate team player. Mitchell early talk was all about what a great defender he was then he turned out to be more Stephon Marbury than Patrick Beverley. The reality is Mitchell is a 6'1" shooting guard and Simmons is a 6'10" point guard. Who would you rather have long term?
express34texas
Guest
Embiid is clearly the Sixers best player. He started the AS game and Simmons wasn't even one of the first 2 injury replacements. But, Embiid has injury problems and can't play super-high minutes. Usually the best player(s) on a team play the most minutes. Simmons and Mitchell both lead their teams in minutes. So, a case could be made for both being the best player on their respective teams. I already about Embiid some. Gobert has a case, and might be UTA's best player, but Mitchell has a case, too. The ROY is still an important award, and while it might not indicate sustained excellence, we shouldn't take it lightly. Both of these players look like future stars.
Jerry
Guest
Well yeah, it's not always indicative of long term success. Carter-Williams & Brogdon don't have future All Star written all over them for instance.
Rellum
Roar Guru
I think Simmons recent spate of triple doubles helping the 76ers climb the table will probably tip him over the edge. I still think in the US they will vote Mitchell because he can shoot and score well and help his team win doing that. Simmons is a bit too different to get something like ROY. Lets be honest, it is an award that means nothing in the long run.
astro
Guest
Yep, fair enough. Gobert's defensive impact has been very significant, and I was overstating things to call Mitchell Utah's 'best player'. My main point was that you can make a credible argument for Mitchell to win ROY. This is the second article on the Roar I've seen, which basically says Simmons is a shoe-in to win and the race is over, but I'm not sure its that simple.
Rellum
Roar Guru
Bird was also an all-star in his rookie year, lead his team to a 32 wins turn around from the previous year and first place.
mushi
Guest
Whilst I think Gobert is the soul of Utah I agree with the double double (or triple double). the only reason it's noteworthy is because we have a decimal number system, it has noting to do with in game impact.
Jerry
Guest
Embiid is the main man for Philly, but so is Gobert for Utah - he may not be the focal point of the offence, but they were rubbish without him and their season only turned around when he started playing regularly.
astro
Guest
One point - the number of double-doubles Mitchell does or in this case, doesn't have, is completely meaningless. Its like arguing Simmons should win the award because he can't shoot 3s. Actually, its even more baseless than that. I think Simmons will win ROY, but its not as clear cut as what this article suggests. Plenty will vote for Mitchell. The Jazz are currently 4th in the much tougher West. They've won 19 of their past 24 games, and battled more injuries through the year than the Sixers. Add to this, Mitchell is their best player and the leader of this team, while you could argue Embiid is the main man for Philly.
express34texas
Guest
Very true Jerry. And Magic didn't even win ROY, Bird did. Those were good calls on rookies better than Simmons since Magic. You can throw in Iverson, Ewing, Robinson, and Griffin. Simmons is having a solid year, but not close to best since Magic(or really Bird).
Jerry
Guest
He's having a great season but 'best since Magic' is absurd hyperbole. Shaq and LeBron had better rookie seasons, just off the top of my head and even without checking the stats, I'd imagine the likes of Bird, KD, Tim Duncan (oh and that Jordan guy) had better seasons. That's not a criticism, all those guys are first ballot HOF and absolute legends.
Ryan Geer
Roar Pro
He’s really stepped up in the past few games in the absense of Joel Embiid putting the team on his back. He could really help them maybe try hold on to the forth seed for home court advantage in the playoffs. He plays with such freedom and he knows he has the size and skill to get to the basket whenever he wants. But it’s his passing, court vision and Basketball IQ that really sets him apart from the rest.