Ben Simmons, Donovan Mitchell Named Rookies Of The Month

[RealGM Wiretap]

The Philadelphia 76ers’ Ben Simmons and the Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell today were named the Kia NBA Eastern and Western Conference Rookies of the Month, respectively, for games played in January.

Simmons tied for the lead among Eastern Conference rookies in scoring (17.1 ppg) and led all first-year NBA players in assists (6.7 apg) in January. He also paced East rookies in steals (1.42 spg), ranked second among all rookies in field goal percentage (59.7) and added 5.3 rebounds. The 6-10 guard/forward helped the 76ers post a 7-5 record, including two wins over the San Antonio Spurs and one each against the Boston Celtics and the Toronto Raptors. On Jan. 24, Simmons reached a triple-double early in the third quarter and finished with 19 points, 17 rebounds and 14 assists in a 115-101 home win over the Chicago Bulls.

Mitchell won the Kia NBA Western Conference Rookie of the Month award for the second month in a row. In January, he led all rookies in scoring (22.2 ppg) and steals (1.54 spg) to go with 3.8 rebounds and 3.4 assists. The 6-3 guard scored 20 points or more in eight of 13 games, including two games with at least 30 points. In his final two games of January, Mitchell scored 26 points in a 97-93 victory at the Toronto Raptors on Jan. 26, followed by 20 points, four assists and four steals in a 129-99 home win over the Golden State Warriors. Those two victories gave Utah a 6-7 record for the month.

Via RealGM Staff Report

[BarneyGumble]

Mitchell is a stud and a TRUE rookie. Give this man the ROTY already!!!

[Hipster Doofus]

Mitchell is a stud and a TRUE rookie. Give this man the ROTY already!!!

I refuse.

[macNcheese3]

Well deserved.

[Lava Rock Kid]

When you compare what teammates these rookies get to play with, It has to be Donovans award. Simons and Tatom are not even the best players on their team. Donovan gets all the defensive attention on Utah because nobody else can score.

[HotelVitale]

When you compare what teammates these rookies get to play with, It has to be Donovans award. Simons and Tatom are not even the best players on their team. Donovan gets all the defensive attention on Utah because nobody else can score.

Simmons plays with Embiid and zero other players who can get their own shot: Covington, Booker, Luwawu, McConnell, A Johnson, Dario, and Justin Anderson were the entirety of the Sixers' rotation this month. (Redick also can't create his shot but was out most of this month). That's a pretty pathetic offensive supporting cast. And if you've watched any games you can see how teams game plan like crazy to stop Simmons (a big reason why he also averages 7 assists per game while taking fewer shots than Mitchell).

[the_process]

Mitchell is a stud and a TRUE rookie. Give this man the ROTY already!!!

Nah.

[macNcheese3]

Mitchell is sick.

[Simmons25]

When you compare what teammates these rookies get to play with, It has to be Donovans award. Simons and Tatom are not even the best players on their team. Donovan gets all the defensive attention on Utah because nobody else can score.

Donovan went to a team that made the conference semi-finals last year... and made them worse.
Simmons has come to a team that hasn't made playoffs since Moses walked on water.... and they are currently in the playoffs.

Simmons deserves it.

[commentatorer]

Simmons is such a natural PG so he probably won't ever choose to be a full-on scorer, but you can see how great he is in the paint (despite the defense hanging back and waiting for him), so if he ever gets a half-decent jump-shot he'll be so hard to guard he'll be able to score like MJ.
Even his hooks and big-men moves look good.
Simmons' best chance at using all his scoring potential may be to play with an elite PG so he is forced to play on the wing more....but good luck finding a better passer than Simmons, he'll probably always be PG.

[mjvile]

When you compare what teammates these rookies get to play with, It has to be Donovans award. Simons and Tatom are not even the best players on their team. Donovan gets all the defensive attention on Utah because nobody else can score.

Donovan went to a team that made the conference semi-finals last year... and made them worse.
Simmons has come to a team that hasn't made playoffs since Moses walked on water.... and they are currently in the playoffs.

Simmons deserves it.

After losing Hill, Hayward, Boris and Exum from last year team you think adding just him and few role player they should be better? Mitchell has replaced Hill's production and will exceeds Hayward's in the next few seasons if not next year.

[Simmons25]

When you compare what teammates these rookies get to play with, It has to be Donovans award. Simons and Tatom are not even the best players on their team. Donovan gets all the defensive attention on Utah because nobody else can score.

Donovan went to a team that made the conference semi-finals last year... and made them worse.
Simmons has come to a team that hasn't made playoffs since Moses walked on water.... and they are currently in the playoffs.

Simmons deserves it.

After losing Hill, Hayward, Boris and Exum from last year team you think adding just him and few role player they should be better? Mitchell has replaced Hill's production and will exceeds Hayward's in the next few seasons if not next year.

Boris and Exum LOL. Boris is off eating himself to death somewhere and c'mon I am Australian and even I know Exum is trash. Hayward yeah he was a loss and Mitchell has basically replaced Hayward (in terms of the fact he has an even more green light and somehow shoots it more than even Hayward did) but all that shows is that Donovan gets opportunities to shoot that other rookies would never get.

Simmons might not be the best player on his team (And that is even arguable amongst some 76er fans) but that is because he is playing with a future hall of famer in Embiid who demands the ball in the post.

Simmons has taken a team that finished 24-58 without him to a 24-24 record already this year with him running the team.
Mitchell has taken a team that finished 51-31 without him to a 22-28 record with him running the team.

End of the day facts don't lie and winning matters. Simmons impact on the team's record has been far greater than Mitchells.

[mjvile]

Donovan went to a team that made the conference semi-finals last year... and made them worse.
Simmons has come to a team that hasn't made playoffs since Moses walked on water.... and they are currently in the playoffs.

Simmons deserves it.

After losing Hill, Hayward, Boris and Exum from last year team you think adding just him and few role player they should be better? Mitchell has replaced Hill's production and will exceeds Hayward's in the next few seasons if not next year.

Boris and Exum LOL. Boris is off eating himself to death somewhere and c'mon I am Australian and even I know Exum is trash. Hayward yeah he was a loss and Mitchell has basically replaced Hayward (in terms of the fact he has an even more green light and somehow shoots it more than even Hayward did) but all that shows is that Donovan gets opportunities to shoot that other rookies would never get.

Simmons might not be the best player on his team (And that is even arguable amongst some 76er fans) but that is because he is playing with a future hall of famer in Embiid who demands the ball in the post.

Simmons has taken a team that finished 24-58 without him to a 24-24 record already this year with him running the team.
Mitchell has taken a team that finished 51-31 without him to a 22-28 record with him running the team.

End of the day facts don't lie and winning matters. Simmons impact on the team's record has been far greater than Mitchells.

Your argument is silly. Mitchell goes against the best of the best in the west and still puts up these numbers. You put the jazz and Michell in the east then we can compare apples to apples. Numbers dont lie and Michell is flat out more exciting of a player and has more of a usage rate (Simmons 23.4,mitchell 28.7) than Simmons. Therefore his team depends on him more. Sixers have two more wins currently than the Jazz and Utah has an easier schedule the rest of the way. We will see how the season finishes out.

Don't forget Philly's past luck before you curse Embiid!!

[Simmons25]

After losing Hill, Hayward, Boris and Exum from last year team you think adding just him and few role player they should be better? Mitchell has replaced Hill's production and will exceeds Hayward's in the next few seasons if not next year.

Boris and Exum LOL. Boris is off eating himself to death somewhere and c'mon I am Australian and even I know Exum is trash. Hayward yeah he was a loss and Mitchell has basically replaced Hayward (in terms of the fact he has an even more green light and somehow shoots it more than even Hayward did) but all that shows is that Donovan gets opportunities to shoot that other rookies would never get.

Simmons might not be the best player on his team (And that is even arguable amongst some 76er fans) but that is because he is playing with a future hall of famer in Embiid who demands the ball in the post.

Simmons has taken a team that finished 24-58 without him to a 24-24 record already this year with him running the team.
Mitchell has taken a team that finished 51-31 without him to a 22-28 record with him running the team.

End of the day facts don't lie and winning matters. Simmons impact on the team's record has been far greater than Mitchells.

Your argument is silly. Mitchell goes against the best of the best in the west and still puts up these numbers. You put the jazz and Michell in the east then we can compare apples to apples. Numbers dont lie and Michell is flat out more exciting of a player and has more of a usage rate (Simmons 23.4,mitchell 28.7) than Simmons. Therefore his team depends on him more. Sixers have two more wins currently than the Jazz and Utah has an easier schedule the rest of the way. We will see how the season finishes out.

Don't forget Philly's past luck before you curse Embiid!!

LOL!! You know what. I will happily have $100 on Simmons to beat Mitchell in rookie of the year. If you actually believed the rubbish you are saying then go on put $100 on the line against me. Lets do this rather than just being all hot air.

[Theagreement]

When you compare what teammates these rookies get to play with, It has to be Donovans award. Simons and Tatom are not even the best players on their team. Donovan gets all the defensive attention on Utah because nobody else can score.

Donovan went to a team that made the conference semi-finals last year... and made them worse.
Simmons has come to a team that hasn't made playoffs since Moses walked on water.... and they are currently in the playoffs.

Simmons deserves it.

Lol, this person watches basketball...Look, both players are legit, but to say Donovan somehow made the Jazz worse? I mean, Ive seen a lot of "hot takes" in these threads, but as an objective basketball fan, this is pretty bad. Them Utah Boys built a team around an all-star, who bolted on them last minutes, not leaving them any time in FA to even attempt to pick up the pieces. George Hill was legit for them too (when healthy). Oh yeah, and look at the numbers: Most injured team in the league the last two years.

I watch a lot of basketball, and both franchises are set. Mitchell has that killer Kobe instinct (that cat wears 45 for a reason. Even MJ had his jaw dropped a few times when mitchell poured in 36 in Charlotte a few weeks ago). Simmons reminds me more of Magic.

So we got MJ and Magic back in the NBA folks! Haha, no but really, Mitchell makes Utah so much better. Without him, with Hayward gone,they aren't even close to the playoffs. With the way he has Utah playing, they might be getting in.

I think Simmons wins ROY unless Donovan has a handful more of games where he takes over in the fourth (the way he's done against several top-tier teams the last two months), and the Jazz hop into the playoffs. Especially if Utah wins more games that Phila. Donovan is running that offense, and the credit would go to him (rightfully so).

[BarneyGumble]

When you compare what teammates these rookies get to play with, It has to be Donovans award. Simons and Tatom are not even the best players on their team. Donovan gets all the defensive attention on Utah because nobody else can score.

Donovan went to a team that made the conference semi-finals last year... and made them worse.
Simmons has come to a team that hasn't made playoffs since Moses walked on water.... and they are currently in the playoffs.

Simmons deserves it.

What an ignorant and uninformed post.

[BarneyGumble]

Boris and Exum LOL. Boris is off eating himself to death somewhere and c'mon I am Australian and even I know Exum is trash. Hayward yeah he was a loss and Mitchell has basically replaced Hayward (in terms of the fact he has an even more green light and somehow shoots it more than even Hayward did) but all that shows is that Donovan gets opportunities to shoot that other rookies would never get.

Simmons might not be the best player on his team (And that is even arguable amongst some 76er fans) but that is because he is playing with a future hall of famer in Embiid who demands the ball in the post.

Simmons has taken a team that finished 24-58 without him to a 24-24 record already this year with him running the team.
Mitchell has taken a team that finished 51-31 without him to a 22-28 record with him running the team.

End of the day facts don't lie and winning matters. Simmons impact on the team's record has been far greater than Mitchells.

Your argument is silly. Mitchell goes against the best of the best in the west and still puts up these numbers. You put the jazz and Michell in the east then we can compare apples to apples. Numbers dont lie and Michell is flat out more exciting of a player and has more of a usage rate (Simmons 23.4,mitchell 28.7) than Simmons. Therefore his team depends on him more. Sixers have two more wins currently than the Jazz and Utah has an easier schedule the rest of the way. We will see how the season finishes out.

Don't forget Philly's past luck before you curse Embiid!!

LOL!! You know what. I will happily have $100 on Simmons to beat Mitchell in rookie of the year. If you actually believed the rubbish you are saying then go on put $100 on the line against me. Lets do this rather than just being all hot air.

I would also put $100 on a second year pro winning this award over a first year pro, given all the inherent advantages...you are really going out on limb here, Mr. Uninformed