Well that didn’t take Ben Simmons long.
A mere one game after Aussie baller and burgeoning NBA phenom tied Magic Johnson for the second-most amount of triple-doubles scored in an NBA rookie season – a mark Johnson set at 7 during his debut season in 1979-80 – Simmons has officially eclipsed the mark, now sitting alone at second on the all-time list.
Simmons dropped another trio of double figures in Philadelphia‘s game against New York, registering a stat sheet of 13 points, 10 rebounds, and 12 assists in his eighth triple-double of the season.
With his 8th triple-double, Ben Simmons passes Magic Johnson for 2nd most triple-doubles ever by a rookie. pic.twitter.com/fxolxmuZPX
— NBA on ESPN (@ESPNNBA) March 16, 2018
At eight, Ben now holds the #2 spot on the rookie triple-double list all by himself. Though he won’t climb any higher, given that the top spot is owned by the legendary Oscar Robertson who set the eye-wateringly high mark of 26 in 1960-61.
Simmons also became the first Philadelphia 76er to register triple-doubles in consecutive games since Andre Iguodala in 2011. He’s just the fifth rookie to do so in the past 30 years as well, joining an illustrious list that sports David Robinson, Jason Kidd, Antonie Walker, and Elfrid Payton.
Beyond that, however, Simmo’s efforts today put him in another elite all-time rookie category.
His stat sheet today was enough to push him past 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, and 500 assists.
Ben Simmons kicks it out to RoCo for his 500th career assist!#HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/Grs1EtJjML
— NBA (@NBA) March 16, 2018
There’s only ever been two other people to achieve numbers like that in their rookie season: Oscar Robertson, and Magic Johnson. Would you even believe it.
Congrats to @BenSimmons25 of the @sixers on becoming the third rookie in @NBAHistory (Oscar Robertson & @MagicJohnson) with 1000 points, 500 rebounds and 500 assists in their rookie season! #ThisIsWhyWePlay #HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/6O09mewFuH
— NBA (@NBA) March 16, 2018
Going further still, Big Ben is now also the first NBA player to record 1,000 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, 50 steals, and 50 blocks in a rookie year ever since extended stats started being kept in 1973-74.
Ben Simmons also just became the first rookie in NBA history to record at least 1000 points, 500 rebounds, 500 assists, 50 blocks, and 50 steals, since blocks and steals have been recorded (1973-74).
— Olgun Uluc (@OlgunUluc) March 16, 2018
We know we’re an Australian publication and therefore we’re as parochial as the summer sun is scorching, but bloody imagine if the NBA somehow finds a way to not give Ben Simmons the Rookie of the Year gong now.
Unthinkable stuff at this point.
