LeBron, Lonzo and Bogut lead reaction to Ben Simmons’ sensational start

LEBRON James, Lonzo Ball and Andrew Bogut led the wild reaction to Ben Simmons’ sensational start to the NBA season.

Salute.

CLIMB aboard the Ben Simmons bandwagon before it’s too late because space is filling up fast.

The Australian’s sensational start to his NBA career is drawing rave reviews across the basketball world — and the hype train went into overdrive after the Philadelphia 76ers rookie notched his first triple double in a win against the Detroit Pistons.

The biggest name in basketball, LeBron James, was quick to acknowledge the performance of his young friend and protege.

“It’s the first of many for him,” James said. “He’s a triple threat. (He has the) ability to score in transition, rebound and pass the ball. His passing is his best quality and high basketball IQ. So, it’s the first of many triple-doubles for the young guy.”

James also gave Simmons a shout-out on Instagram.

.@KingJames congratulates @BenSimmons25 on his first-career triple double via Instagram. pic.twitter.com/1B0x9S7nUu

— Andrew Porter (@And_Porter) October 24, 2017

But the love-in didn’t stop there. Fellow Aussie Andrew Bogut was glowing in his praise of what Simmons has achieved in his first four games in the league, as he posts averages of 17 points, 10.8 rebounds and seven assists.

“He’s been unbelievable. His numbers are eye-popping,” the Lakers centre told SEN. “To do what he’s done — obviously he’s broken some records already — he just plays with such rhythm and flow.

“He’s distributing the ball very well. I think he’s closer to seven foot than people realise and the way he handles it and passes it, it’s just a match-up nightmare for most teams.”

The NBA’s general managers tipped Simmons to finish second behind Lakers guard Lonzo Ball in the Rookie of the Year when they were polled preseason. But the narrative is changing quickly.

Sports Illustrated’s Jeremy Woo has Simmons in pole position. “Despite the fact we are one week into the season, the reasonable things we can assert are that 1) Simmons has emerged more fully-formed than anyone expected, and 2) he looks like an obvious frontrunner in the Rookie of the Year race,” Woo write.

“It’s not just the numbers, it’s how good Simmons looked racking them up,” added ESPN’s Rachel Nichols, as she made an early case for Simmons’ Rookie of the Year hopes.

Even Ball gave his blessing. “Congratulations to him,” Ball said. “And they got the win. So that’s positive.”

Ben Simmons is reeeeaaallllly good, even beyond the obvious stuff. Under control on defense, good balance/footwork when engaged.

— Zach Lowe (@ZachLowe_NBA) October 24, 2017

Simmons is already causing opposition coaches headaches. Detroit’s Stan Van Gundy admitted he couldn’t find a solution for the oversized point guard as he put up 21 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists in 34 minutes.

“Simmons, I’m going to take the blame on that one because I just didn’t find an answer with him at all,” Pistons coach Stan van Gundy said. “There are things guys could have done better, but game plan-wise I did a really poor job in terms of Simmons. It’s frustrating.”

Yahoo! Sports’ Dan Devine compared Simmons’ playmaking to the league’s elite. “Simmons attacked the Pistons with poise, patience and well-placed aggression, getting just about wherever he wanted on the floor,” Devine wrote. “He took advantage of match-ups against Detroit’s smaller defenders, using his handle to get into the lane and a soft touch to drop in floaters and half-hooks from close range. He used that combination of size and quickness to force his way into and through contact, generating six free throws and making five. He kept his head up on the break and working around screens. He drove and kicked and found trailers for open in-rhythm looks, and even orchestrated a wide-open corner three for point guard T.J. McConnell with the kind of on-a-rope crosscourt pass we’ve come to expect from next-level playmakers like LeBron James, John Wall and James Harden ... In his fourth game, on the road, after a year on the shelf, Simmons moved around the floor like it belonged to him.”

Find someone who looks at you the way Joel Embiid looks at Ben Simmons

📸: @sixers pic.twitter.com/MQQjF3BPVR

— SB Nation (@SBNation) October 24, 2017

The pairing of Simmons and young centre Joel Embiid is giving 76ers fans real hope for the future — and saw the duo compared to legendary combo Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul Jabbar by Fox Sports 1’s Chris Broussard.

“This might sound crazy, but when you look at their positions and you look at their ability, Ben Simmons ... we’ve talked about Magic, Joel Embiid ... he doesn’t play like him, but Kareem,” Broussard said. “You’ve got the great point guard and the great centre. Watch it in the future.”

Loved Ben Simmons game from the moment I watched. Hybrid of Lamar Odom, Magic/LBJ. ?s have always been his jumper,ability to lead,defense

— Doug Gottlieb (@GottliebShow) October 24, 2017

We repeat: Climb aboard the bandwagon fast.