Ben Simmons nearly recorded the fifth triple-double of his rookie season in one half. Instead, the Philadelphia 76ers point-guard-slash-phenom wrapped up the phenomenon in 21 minutes, 52 seconds, a few minutes longer than the fastest one ever recorded.
Ben Simmons responds to his All-Star snub by getting a triple-double in only 22 minutes
Simmons finished with a 19-17-14-2 line, something that has only been done by one other player EVER.
Photo by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
At halftime, Simmons entered with 11 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists. He needed just 49 seconds once the second half started to notch those two additional dimes, and he finished with 19 points, 17 rebounds, and 14 assists. Naturally, that set some records.
- Simmons has five triple-doubles, the most for a rookie since Magic Johnson in 1979-80.
- Simmons is also only two triple-doubles behind Magic Johnson’s rookie record, and he’s on pace for either nine or 10 this season.
- Simmons’ 19-17-14 stat line, plus his two blocks, has only been replicated by one player: Larry Bird, who has done it twice.
- If you take out the blocks requirement, you can add seven more players: Steve Francis, Draymond Green, Magic Johnson, Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain, Russell Westbrook, James Harden. (Chamberlain has done it 10 times, including one 53-32-14 game.)
- We should note that blocks were not recorded as an official NBA stat when Robertson and Chamberlain were playing. Possibly Robertson and certainly Chamberlain recorded multiple blocks in those games.
- This season, only Russell Westbrook has put up those numbers. He has a 27-point, 17-rebound, 15-assist game in December.
- The record for fastest triple-double was set by Jim Tucker of the Syracuse Nationals in 1953, who only needed 17 minutes. Last season, Westbrook completed one in about 19 minutes. Simmons’ pace was a little off compared to those two, but it was impressively quick all the same.
Simmons was not selected to the All-Star Game, which is arguably a snub. (I personally would have taken him over John Wall, but I also might have taken Andre Drummond over Simmons, who was also not selected.) If he was upset about it, perhaps this is proof. After all, that’s a hell of a stat line from him, even if he only shot 6-of-15 from the floor.
That led to jokes like this. (Though Al Horford is a deserving All-Star. Fight me. Actually, seriously, complain about Wall getting in.)
Here’s a taste from this game:
Simmons is a force — that much is clear.
