To a certain extent, the 2018-19 Philadelphia 76ers season has been a disappointment for Ben Simmons. Through 18 games, the reigning Rookie of the Year is averaging 14.2 points, 9.0 rebounds and 7.6 assists per game and shooting 52.9 percent from the field.
While Simmons continues to log heavy minutes and impressive stat lines, he hasn’t made the noticeable leap most pundits expected coming into the season. Without a reliable jumper, the issues that plagued him as a rookie are continuing to show up.
It’s important, of course, to put these concerns in context.