Don’t be fooled by LSU basketball’s weak 9-5 record to start the season, freshman Ben Simmons is a monster. He spearheaded an upset of No. 9 Kentucky Tuesday night, and NBA legend Magic Johnson got very excited about it.
LSU's Ben Simmons is the best all around player I've seen since LeBron James came out of high school straight to the NBA!
— Earvin Magic Johnson (@MagicJohnson) January 6, 2016
Before you crush Magic for comparing a college freshman on a team with five losses to quite possibly the best player in NBA history, realize that he isn’t wrong. Basketball is still a team game, and Simmons is doing damage in NBA-esque ways.
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Simmons’ domination of Kentucky last night was reminiscent of LeBron’s most efficient games when paired with Dwyane Wade on the Heat. Simmons shot just five times, and finished his night with 14 points and 10 rebounds. That’s a pro-level of understanding how to pick his spots, and he allowed his teammate Tim Quarterman to shine with 21 points.
That doesn’t mean he hasn’t been able to fill it up in the points column when he wants as well. Simmons has recorded a double-double in 10 of LSU’s 14 games. Simmons had 21 points and 20 rebounds in a loss to Marquette, and 15 points with 18 boards in a loss to College of Charleston. Even when he can’t buy a bucket, he put up 14 rebounds and 10 assists vs. North Carolina State.
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He has a mature game, and his college stats are looking like LeBron James’ did against high school competition. Johnson didn’t say Simmons is as good as James; he said he’s the best at this stage since LeBron was about to enter the draft. That point is tough to argue against.
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