Ben Simmons has been dealing with hype and expectation since high school so NBA All-Star and rookie of the year chatter is water off a duck's back for the 20-year-old Australian superstar.
Simmons has been a revelation in his first full season after being handed the point guard role by Philadelphia 76ers coach Brett Brown.
Former Boomers mentor Brown made him the focal point of his team alongside giant centre Joel Embiid and it has paid off with the perennial battlers sitting just one spot outside the Eastern Conference play-off spots.
Simmons averages 16.9 points and 8.