Ben Simmons and LeBron being compared? You have to be kidding me.
From my last post, you all should know that I’m now afraid to speak my mind about issues around the NBA. One thing in particular that has been angering me for awhile now is the comparison between LeBron James and Ben Simmons. It’s time to put this to sleep and hope it never wake it up!
Simmons is a scary replica of Magic Johnson and has single-handedly turned the 76ers season around. He’s changed the culture in Philadelphia. For the first time since 2011, the Sixers are in playoff conversations. Now, he’s on the verge of averaging a triple-double, and he’s performing consistently. He’s deserves to be in conversation for rookie of the year, but it’s only been half of a season. Don’t compare him to the King.
Something tells me that those 76ers fans started all this.
If we’re being realistic, Simmons has been in league for a year and has had a front row seat to learn how the league works, and let’s not shy away from the fact that Simmons is 21 when LeBron was was barely 18 years old heading into the league and had no prior NBA experience. You can’t compare two players who were three years apart with one already having a year around the league. Not only is age a huge factor, but the league was different in 2003 than it is now. The competition was far better than it is today, and no one can tell me otherwise. The league’s weaker. There have been too many rules and regulations have put in place or re-stressed. Put Simmons in the league in 2003, and mark my words, he would’ve had a rough transition.
LeBron had to instantly be a franchise piece in Cleveland, and he did it at 18 years old. That’s something Simmons never had to do. When Simmons came in, the foundation had already been built with Joel Embiid, so all he had to do was perform in the rotation.
It would be a different story if he was actually a rookie, then I could accept the fact that he’s being compared to LeBron. So, let’s just move on and save this conversation for another day when he progresses into a more defined player. Simmons has impressed me so far, but he’s no LeBron.
By the way the Great TPR has not fired me, yet. So follow me on Twitter (while you still can) for more sports news @JMan_PerSources