Ben Simmons – the 21-year-old from Melbourne – has led the Philadelphia 76ers to their first common season win with a triple-double in simply his fourth recreation. The feat locations him alongside basketball greats Oscar Robertson and Charles Barkley within the NBA historical past books.
Simmons is the primary Australian to have a triple-double within the NBA, whereas solely Robertson and Artwork “Hambone” Williams have achieved triple-doubles of their first 4 video games. LeBron James, by comparability, took till mid-way by way of his second NBA season to realize his first triple-double.
Simmons was excellent within the win towards the Detroit Pistons, with 21 factors, 12 rebounds and 10 assists within the 97-86 win.
The Australian shrugged off the private accolades and targeted on his workforce’s maiden win. “It feels nice that we gained,” Simmons stated. “Our workforce performed properly collectively and we performed the fitting means. I’m simply pleased we received our first one.”
Simmons additionally turned the primary participant to realize the feat in Detroit’s new Little Caesars Area and have become the primary 76ers rookie since Michael Carter-Williams to submit a triple-double.
He's now additionally the primary 76ers participant since Barkley in 1987 to shoot greater than 70 per cent from the sector in a triple-double with eight of his 11 photographs profitable.
The 76ers, regardless of excessive expectations, opened the NBA common season with losses of their first three video games. Simmons and centre Joel Embiid, with 30 factors and 9 rebounds, have been too robust for a Pistons squad that falls to a two-win, two-loss season report.
Comments