Ben Simmons, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft, was forced to leave his Summer League debut in the fourth quarter on Monday due to cramping in both calves.
It was initially just considered a “leg injury” and must have freaked out any Philadelphia 76ers fans that were watching the game:
Ben Simmons assisted off floor with a leg injury. This is fine. #TrustTheProcess https://t.co/fBqDzDlsMs
— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) July 5, 2016
But, unless cramping issues somehow keep up for four more months, there’s nothing to worry about on that front with Simmons. The bigger takeaway from the game was how impressive Simmons looked in his 24 minutes of play.
The LSU product only went 2-of-9 from the field for 10 points, but showed off his outstanding all-around game that makes him such a terrific prospect. This is a 6’10”, 24-pound forward running the floor and threading the needle for an assist:
Ben Simmons 👀https://t.co/E5gjydDtj0 — Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) July 4, 2016
And driving to the basket, before making a no-look pass in the paint:
Hello my name is Ben Simmons https://t.co/07xNRyEC7E
— Rob Perez (@World_Wide_Wob) July 5, 2016
He also pulled down eight boards. Now, saying he’s “The next LeBron James!” is a bit much (and unfair to the 19-year-old), but you can see the all-around, rare skills that draw the comparisons. Finally, Sixers fans have something to be excited about.