LAS VEGAS _ Ben Simmons has been wowing folks in five summer league appearances _ so much so that the Sixers' No. 1 pick has been compared to arguably the best NBA player of this era.
"He's like a mini-LeBron," Chicago Bulls rookie Denzel Valentine told ESPN. "LeBron's probably top 10 (all time), so if he's a mini-LeBron, that's saying a lot."
Simmons was asked about the comparison to LeBron James, the Cleveland Cavaliers All-Star who is his mentor and close friend.
"I play like Ben Simmons," said the rookie, a 6-foot-10, 243-pound point forward. "I try not to compare myself to other players. There are guys that I look at and try to take positive games and implement it to mine."
Simmons and reserve center Christian Wood sat out the NBA Summer League playoff game Wednesday against the NBA Development League select team at Thomas & Mack Center.
The former LSU star is averaging 11.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 5.3 assists in three summer league games in Las Vegas. Including two Utah Summer League games last week, Simmons is averaging 10.2 points, 7.4 rebounds and 5.4 assists.
Sixers assistant Lloyd Pierce said he understands why Simmons doesn't want to be compared to James.
"No one wants to be unfairly compared to anyone of that stature," said Pierce, who is coaching the summer league team. "With the expectations come the assumptions.
"As I said, let Ben be Ben. He wants to be his own person."
