It’s easy to see why Ben Simmons is often compared to LeBron James. Like the four-time MVP, the 21-year-old Aussie is a forward in a center’s body with guard skills, who posts double-doubles routinely and triple doubles on especially good nights.
Simmons will easily win Rookie of the Year this year and could have MVPs in his future, but he’s not at LeBron’s level quite yet. On Saturday night, James tallied 30 points, 13 rebounds and 13 assists as the Cavaliers defeated Simmons’ Sixers 105-99. Outcome aside, the game, and especially the fourth quarter, was a procession of highlight plays, as LeBron and Simmons put on a show.
Here’s Simmons starting the game with a fast-break slam:
.@BenSimmon25 rolls in, throws down and we're underway! pic.twitter.com/o0YseiT1oj
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 10, 2017
Here’s Simmons finding Robert Covington on a nifty little no-look pass:
how did ben simmons do this pic.twitter.com/PSzewpVd47
— Drew Corrigan (@Dcorrigan50) December 10, 2017
Here’s LeBron finishing an open alley-oop from J.R.Smith:
Swish with the dish. ? pic.twitter.com/AQ7b9FiC86
— Cleveland Cavaliers (@cavs) December 10, 2017
Here’s Simmons knifing to the basket for a dunk:
BEN ? pic.twitter.com/Ycpctto40A
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) December 10, 2017
Here’s LeBron, on a long football-style pass from Smith, sinking a contested lay-up.
JR, stepping back in the pocket, finds LeBron James, for the score!
Is it Sunday already? @Cavs up in the Sixers in the 3rd: https://t.co/IoX38eI1nm pic.twitter.com/IKtL6rZcc1
— FOX Sports Ohio (@FOXSportsOH) December 10, 2017
The Sixers actually led late in the fourth quarter. Here’s Simmons spinning by a defender and posterizing another to give Philly a five-point lead:
Ben Simmons can ball ? pic.twitter.com/m3UIMQ4WPH
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) December 10, 2017
But here’s LeBron a few minutes later finding Kyle Korver with a beautiful bounce pass for a go-ahead three:
LeBron's bounce pass to Korver *chef kisses fingers* pic.twitter.com/d1bjrUGEi1
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) December 10, 2017
And here’s The King hitting Jae Crowder with an incredible cross-court jump-pass to help seal the game.
These cross court passes from LeBron are so good pic.twitter.com/5blfBWYtNw
— CJ Fogler (@cjzero) December 10, 2017
Simmons wound up with 14 points on 7-of-13 shooting, six rebounds and 10 assists, but he also turned over the ball seven times in the loss (though LeBron had six turnovers of his own). One day LeBron might pass the point-forward torch to Simmons, but Saturday was not that day.