I still remember the night Ben Simmons officially became the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year like it was yesterday. The announcement came during the NBA Awards show at Barker Hangar in Santa Monica, and honestly, nobody was particularly surprised. What made it special wasn't just that he won—it was how he won, and the conversations it sparked across basketball circles. You see, Simmons had technically been drafted back in 2016, but a foot injury kept him off the court for what would have been his actual rookie season. So when he finally stepped onto the floor for the Philadelphia 76ers in 2017-2018, the debate began: was this really his rookie year?
Let me take you back to that season. Simmons averaged 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists per game—numbers that hadn't been seen from a first-year player since Oscar Robertson. I recall watching one particular game where he nearly notched a triple-double by halftime. The way he controlled the pace, his court vision that seemed decades beyond his years, it felt like we were witnessing something special. Meanwhile, Donovan Mitchell over in Utah was putting up equally impressive scoring numbers, dropping 20.5 points per game and carrying the Jazz offense in ways nobody expected from a rookie. The rivalry between them became the storyline of the season, with fans passionately arguing about who truly deserved the award.
What fascinates me about that ROY race is how it mirrored the evolution of basketball itself. Simmons represented this new breed of positionless basketball—a 6'10" point guard who could defend all five positions. Mitchell embodied the scoring guard who could create his own shot from anywhere. I found myself leaning toward Simmons, not just because of his all-around game, but because players like him simply don't come around often. Still, I have to admit Mitchell's scoring explosions were absolutely electrifying. I was at a sports bar during that playoff game where Mitchell dropped 38 points against Oklahoma City—the place went absolutely wild.
The voting wasn't even close in the end. Simmons received 90 out of 101 first-place votes, which tells you how dominant his case was despite the controversy. But here's what many people forget—both players made history in their own ways. Simmons joined Michael Jordan and LeBron James as the only rookies to record at least 1200 points, 600 rebounds, and 600 assists. Mitchell set the rookie record for three-pointers made in a season with 187. These weren't just good rookies—they were historically great.
Thinking about that season reminds me of the excitement at Ynares Center in Antipolo during those two games last month. The energy in the arena, the way young players stepped up in crucial moments—it had that same rookie-of-the-year vibe where you could feel history being made. One player in particular, a fresh-faced guard who'd only been playing professionally for three months, reminded me so much of Mitchell with his fearless drives to the basket. He ended up scoring 28 points in the second half alone, willing his team to victory in a game they had no business winning. The other game featured a rookie center who controlled the paint like Simmons, grabbing 15 rebounds and dishing out 7 assists despite being double-teamed all night.
What strikes me about these performances, whether in the NBA or at Ynares Center, is how certain players just have that "it" factor from day one. They're not just playing—they're changing how the game is played. Simmons revolutionized what we expect from rookie point guards, just as that young center in Antipolo showed that big men can be primary playmakers too. The numbers tell part of the story—Simmons' 12 triple-doubles that season, Mitchell's seven 30-point games—but what the stats can't capture is the electricity they brought to every game.
Looking back, I think the 2018 ROY race will be remembered as one of those defining moments that showcased basketball's future. Both Simmons and Mitchell have become All-Stars, proving that season was no fluke. And watching those games at Ynares Center, I couldn't help but wonder if we were seeing the next generation of history-makers in the making. The way these young players carry themselves, the confidence they display—it all takes me back to that 2018 season when two special rookies reminded us why we fell in love with basketball in the first place. Sometimes, the most exciting part of sports isn't just who wins the award, but how they change the game along the way.