Philadelphia 76ers: Ben Simmons by the numbers

Already the favorite to take away Rookie of the Year honors, here are the numbers thus far from Ben Simmons’ debut season for the Philadelphia 76ers.

The superlatives have seemingly been never-ending during Ben Simmons‘ initial stages with the Philadelphia 76ers.

In averaging 18.5 points, 9.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists in 35.1 minutes per game, Simmons has taken the league by storm over his first 17 games. As a 6’10” point guard, Simmons’ combination of size, skill, explosiveness, and overall control has already made him on of the most watchable players in the league.

In a recent interview on The Freddie and Fritz Show on ESPN, head coach Brett Brown made the following observations:

"“So far, he has exceeded all expectations in my eyes….He can get almost wherever he wants to go on an NBA court….we see his ability to shoot left-hand, right-hand…..His evolution, albeit early, has been extremely impressive.”"

Currently, Simmons is a +63 for the season when on the floor, with the Sixers as a team being 13.4 points per 100 possessions better off whenever he is on the court.

But in a broader sense, here’s a look at where Simmons ranks overall in the league in a variety of categories:

• Passes:  74.8 per game (1st)
• Touches:  100.4 per game (1st)
• Drives:  19.0 per game (2nd)
• 3-point contests:  4.2 per game (3rd)
• Steals:  2.1 per game (4th)
• Assists:  7.7 per game (6th)
• Double-doubles:  11 (6th)

To be ranked among the league leaders in such a vast array of statistical categories is incredibly impressive.

Not only have Simmons’ numbers been favorable to the current stars in the league, they compare more than favorably with some of the all-time rookie seasons. Here is one example:

Here’s another comparison, made after game No. 15:

Furthermore, in terms of a single game performance, here’s a further comparison to other rookies:

If Simmons continues with his current form, an All-Star selection is clearly a distinct possibility. Over the past 20 seasons, just three rookies have made the All-Star game, with all being No. 1 overall picks. These were Tim Duncan (1998), Yao Ming (2003) and Blake Griffin (2011).

Not only has Simmons’ game made an impression statistically, it’s also garnered the attention of the superstars of the league. Following the Sixers’ recent home loss to the NBA champion Golden State Warriors, All-Star forward Kevin Durant couldn’t hold back his admiration from what he’s seen thus far from Simmons:

"“He’s something I’ve never seen before, as far as really playing the point guard….at that height and that speed, and that strength. You can tell he’s an Aussie, because he doesn’t mind getting into some scuffles, and showing his little feisty side. That’s going to mean well for the Sixers going down the line.”"

With the team now 10-7 after their most recent home win over the Portland Trail Blazers, the Sixers have set themselves up nicely at this early stage of the season, with six of their next seven games due to be played at home.

Next: 2017-18 Week 6 NBA Power Rankings

Furthermore, considering the pain Sixers’ fans have endured in recent times, the sight of Simmons and co. simply scratching the surface of their potential is clearly a tantalizing prospect.