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I remember sitting in a crowded sports bar in downtown Manila, the humid night air thick with anticipation as basketball fans gathered around multiple screens. On one side, the local PBA game from Ynares Center in Antipolo played out, while the other screens showed NBA highlights. It was during one of these evenings, between bites of crispy pata and sips of San Miguel, that I found myself explaining to a group of fellow fans just how special Ben Simmons' 2018 Rookie of the Year campaign had been. The conversation started when someone mentioned the explosive performance we'd just witnessed at Ynares Center, where the energy reminded me so much of those electrifying 76ers games from that remarkable season.
The truth is, I've always had a soft spot for rookies who enter the league with tremendous hype and actually deliver. When the Philadelphia 76ers selected Ben Simmons first overall in 2016, I'll admit I was skeptical. The LSU product had missed what would have been his rookie season due to injury, making his actual debut in 2017-18 feel almost like a second chance at a first impression. Boy, did he make it count. From opening night, Simmons played with a poise that belied his technical rookie status, immediately establishing himself as the primary ball-handler for a team that had been starving for direction.
What made Simmons' case for Rookie of the Year so compelling was how he dominated the season in ways that went beyond traditional statistics, though his numbers were certainly impressive. He averaged 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game – putting him in rarefied air for first-year players. But watching him play, what struck me most was his court vision. At 6'10", he brought the ball up the court like a point guard but could see over defenses like a center surveying the paint. This unique combination created mismatches that opposing teams simply couldn't solve night after night.
I recall one particular game in November 2017 against the Detroit Pistons where Simmons recorded his first career triple-double. The way he controlled the tempo, the precision of his passes in transition – it felt like watching a veteran in his prime rather than a player making his 15th career start. This wasn't just a player having a good stretch; this was someone redefining what we could expect from rookies. The buzz around Simmons grew with each passing week, and by the time the All-Star break approached, the Rookie of the Year conversation had essentially become a one-man show.
The parallels between Simmons' dominance and the excitement we witnessed in those games at Ynares Center in Antipolo are striking. In both cases, we saw young players not just participating but dictating the flow of the game. There's something special about watching athletes who play with that combination of raw talent and basketball IQ that can't be taught. Simmons had that magical quality where time seemed to slow down when he had the ball, similar to how the best players in the PBA games at Ynares Center could control the pace and rhythm to their liking.
What many casual fans might not appreciate is how Simmons' impact extended beyond the box score. His defensive versatility allowed the 76ers to switch more effectively, his rebounding ignited their lethal transition game, and his mere presence created better looks for sharpshooters like JJ Redick and Robert Covington. The 76ers improved from 28 wins the previous season to 52 wins with Simmons running the show – that's no coincidence. As someone who's followed the NBA for over two decades, I can tell you that kind of immediate turnaround rarely happens without a special talent leading the charge.
The debate around Simmons' rookie eligibility due to his red-shirt year added an interesting layer to the narrative, but honestly, I never found that argument particularly compelling. The man had never played an NBA game before that season, and what he accomplished was extraordinary regardless of technicalities. His main competition, Donovan Mitchell, had a fantastic season in his own right and would have been a deserving winner in most other years. But Simmons was just on another level – the complete package who made everyone around him better.
Thinking back to that night in Manila, surrounded by passionate basketball fans from different backgrounds, I'm reminded of how universal the appreciation for transcendent talent can be. Whether we're watching games at Ynares Center or following the NBA from halfway across the world, we recognize greatness when we see it. Ben Simmons' 2018 Rookie of the Year season was exactly that – a display of basketball excellence that reminded us why we fell in love with this game in the first place. His dominance that year wasn't just about statistics or highlights; it was about a player who transformed a franchise and gave us a glimpse of basketball's future.