Melbourne basketball star smashes NBA debut

MELBOURNE basketball export Ben Simmons hopes his stunning debut was just the start of something special.

Simmons stars on NBA debut Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers dribbles the ball against the Washington Wizards. Picture: Getty

MELBOURNE basketball export Ben Simmons has compared his stunning NBA debut to playing his favourite video game.

The former Box Hill basketballer today poured in 18 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for Philadelphia in the 76ers’ five point loss to Washington to win widespread praise.

But, after forming a formidable combination with fellow phenom Joel Embiid, he hoped it was just the start of something special.

“It felt like I was playing 2K, honestly,” he said.

“Just looking at Embiid out there with the lights on his jersey.

“I was like, ‘Man, I’m actually here’

Great performance: Ben Simmons. Picture: AP Photo

Billed as a superstar in the making and endorsed by the likes of LeBron James and Magic Johnson, Simmons said he was just happy playing the game he loved.

“It’s fun,” Simmons said.

“I’m enjoying it.”

With his dad, former Melbourne Tigers great Dave, watching proudly from front row, Simmons shone in 34 minutes on-court as the 76ers were edged 120-115 to the Wizards in Washington DC.

It included a spectacular second quarter steal and fast break slam dunk and two steals, a block and just one turnover to go with his double-double.

Selected with the No. 1 pick of the 2016 Draft, Simmons was forced to sit out the entire season last year with a broken right foot.

His coach, former Aussie Boomers leader Brett Brown branded Simmons’ debut “Really, really exceptional.”

“Physically, we all see what he is an athlete and I think that his growth path, his improvement scale, I think it can be off the charts’’.

@rolfep