Ben Simmons’ rookie campaign may have ended early, but he is beginning his second season with a bang.
The 21-year-old point guard — the 2016 top overall pick out of LSU — recorded his first career triple-double in the Philadelphia 76ers’ (1-3) 97-86 road victory over the Detroit Pistons on Monday, their first win of the season.
Simmons notched a career-high 21 points as well as 12 rebounds and ten assists in 34 minutes.
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The Australian youngster is the first rookie to secure a triple-double within his first four NBA games since Art “Hambone” Williams in 1967, according to ESPN Stats & Info. The only other player to achieve this was Oscar Robertson, who earned three triple-doubles during the first four weeks of his rookie season in 1960-61. Robertson averaged 25.7 points, 7.5 rebounds and 9.5 assists in his Hall of Fame career.
Fourth-year center Joel Embiid added 30 points, nine rebounds and two steals for the Sixers.
The Pistons — who rallied from a 21-point deficit to beat the New York Knicks on Saturday night, were 21 points behind Philadelphia on Monday.
Simmons missed all of last season with a foot injury. He finished two assists shy of a triple-double at Toronto on Saturday.
Andre Drummond had 14 points and 14 rebounds for the Pistons (2-2). Drummond passed Walter Dukes for sixth on Detroit’s career rebounding list.
Monday’s game marked the Piston’s second at Little Caesars Arena, the new downtown venue they share with the NHL’s Red Wings.
The Sixers next host Houston on Wednesday night, when the Pistons host Minnesota before embarking on a three-game trip.
PHILADELPHIA, PA – OCTOBER 20: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers passes the ball against the Boston Celtics at the Wells Fargo Center on October 20, 2017 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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