IT’S very rare one finds Ben Simmons embracing a moment of self-realisation.

The nature of the NBA is that there’s always something happening. A superstar can be traded on the same day a rookie has the game of his life. Meanwhile, budding rivalries pick up steam, during a season that effectively begins and ends on the same month. You can’t take your eyes off it, and it’s even harder to escape.

For Simmons, it’s even harder to take a step back and truly take in the reality of his circumstance. The Australian was the No. 1 player in high school, blurred through a season at Louisiana State University, and rode a warranted hype wave to become the first overall pick in the 2016 draft. He was achieving at a rapid pace, sacrificing forming relationships and a normal childhood, in order to chase his dream of being the greatest basketball player on the planet.

So, when Simmons was surrounded by his family over the holiday period, on a winter’s Wednesday morning in Philadelphia, it hit him. It’s not often the 21-year-old is able to get his parents, David and Julie; his brother, Sean; and sister, Olivia, in the same room, and that morning after the 76ers’ game against the Sacramento Kings, Ben Simmons turned into ‘Benny’, if only for a moment.

Monday September 21st

“I was like, ‘Damn, I just played against Vince Carter. That’s so cool’,” Simmons said, in an exclusive conversation with foxsports.com.au.

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“Playing against ‘Bron, matching up against those guys, and then looking at certain categories where I’m doing well in assists or steals, and I’m looking at the players that are either below me or above me. It’s like LeBron or Westbrook, guys like that. So, it’s pretty surreal, but it’s an awesome feeling.”

Simmons jokes to his mother: “Don’t treat me different because I’m famous.”

It’s a line clearly meant in jest, but one that has a hint of truth to it.

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Both of Simmons’ parents live in Philadelphia for most of the NBA regular season, and they’re not far from the point guard’s apartment. When he has down time, Simmons is usually hanging out at home, playing video games or watching television. Other times, his parents will visit him, and, if he’s lucky, will cook him a meal.

“Family,” Simmons said, when asked what he misses most about life before the NBA. “Having my family around all the time, and being able to be with them.”

His circle is small — part of the advice the family was given when Ben was in high school: ‘no new friends’ — and it seems to be more of a necessity, than anything else. The nature of being a potential superstar athlete in a sports-mad city like Philadelphia means you have to adapt to the fame and adulation that comes with it.

Simmons has one friend from high school who lives in the city, but there aren’t too many people, outside of his family and teammates, that he’s able to ‘let in’ to his life. He says it’s what keeps him human.

“YEAH, I FIT IN HERE”

Staying as human as possible, and as grounded as possible, is naturally difficult for an athlete, when he or she is performing at a superhuman level, which is how many described the start to Simmons’ 2017-18 regular season. He played well beyond his years, making people forget he’s still in his first official season in the NBA.

The criticisms were deafening. ‘He can’t shoot’, ‘he’s too unselfish’, ‘he’s arrogant’, and the list goes on and on. Simmons described his demeanour as “motivated” heading into his rookie year, but didn’t expect to come out of the gates as hot as he did.

“A little,” Simmons said, when asked if he was surprised at his impressive start to the season.

“But, I was kind of aware of what I could be and become as a player. I put so much work in this summer, that I knew I was gonna come in and do my thing. I try to not think about it too much, and, once that first game happened, I was like, ‘yeah, I fit in here’.”

“I knew I was gonna come in and do my thing.” Source: Getty Images

Simmons isn’t just fitting in, either.

Entering February, the 76ers are holding onto the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference, with Simmons’ play remaining relatively consistent over the entire season.

He leads all rookies in nearly every statistical category, has already notched five triple-doubles, is among the league’s leaders in steals, and has stunned counterparts with a dazzling passing game and an unanticipated level of athleticism.

Simmons believes it’s his floor vision and IQ that’s translated best to the NBA game, and he says there’s nothing he enjoys more than seeing those around him succeed.

“Seeing (my teammates) get out in transition, and pull up for three, hit those shots, it’s huge for our team, and it’s so much fun to play with them,” Simmons said. “We read each other well, the way we play, so I think, down the road, we’re just gonna get better.”

BEN AND JOEL: “WE NEED EACH OTHER”

The 76ers know they have a superstar duo in the making.

Joel Embiid has a skillset for his size that’s almost unrivalled in the history of basketball, and, paired with a transcendent player like Simmons, it’s easy to see why the franchise is happy.

However, the team is also playing it safe, pre-empting the inevitable when you put two incredibly talented, 20-somethings on the same team. Simmons sees it, too, and welcomed the anticipatory intervention.

“We realise we need each other,” Simmons said.

“It’s one of those things where I think guys get too caught up in themselves, where one guy wants to be a superstar, but, at the same time, you need a few guys who are at that level, to win championships.

“Jo knows that. I know that. And, the coach knows that. We’ve had multiple meetings about that topic, and we both know we need each other. Me seeing him do well makes me happy because that means my team’s doing well. I know he doesn’t get caught up in that, either.”

There’s a light and shade that comes with the frontcourt pairing of Simmons and Embiid.

On one hand, there’s Simmons, who rarely talks on the court, and is known for his cool demeanour and mellow nature. Then, there’s Embiid, who’ll jaw at an opponent at any chance he gets, whether it’s on the court or on Twitter or Instagram.

“He loves the crowd getting hyped, and the trolling on Twitter and Instagram, and I kinda just watch it because that’s not me,” Simmons said. “At the same time, I’d go to battle for him.”

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‘We realise we need each other.’ Source: Getty Images

Embiid’s jokey attitude, Simmons insists, doesn’t have an effect on the way he or the team plays, which is somewhat evidenced by the Cameroonian’s recent nod as an All Star starter.

“He’s a fun person to be around. A lot of jokes with him, but once he’s on the court, he’s a serious guy and wants to win. He’s a competitor,” Simmons said.

“He doesn’t joke too much, though, to the point where it’s too much. Once we’re on the court, we’re all serious.”

That’s always a concern: what happens when it’s ‘too much’, or goes ‘too far’?

Embiid knows, and anticipates players going extra hard at him. Simmons has earned his fair share of confrontations, too, most notably with Philadelphia-natives, Kyle Lowry and Marcus Morris.

Simmons made sure the league knew that he wouldn’t “take sh** from anybody”, but he knows players will rarely start any sort of genuine conflict. The 21-year-old gave a clear ‘no’, when asked if he think a player would every take a shot at him.

“If he does that, then he’s gonna be out for a while,” he said.

“No one comes to a game and is like, “let’s fight,””

“I see why they wanna fight Jo, though, because no-one can guard him. That does get frustrating. But, the guys who do wanna fight are obviously the guys who aren’t good enough.”

PHILLY, JULIE, AND BENNY

Simmons’ first impression of Philadelphia wasn’t ideal. In fact, he didn’t really enjoy it.

“I was, driving across the bridge, and heading to the old practice facility, which was probably the worst in the NBA at the time,” he said. “I was shocked and wasn’t really looking forward to it.”

The 76ers’ new training complex open in September of 2016, just a few months after the Australian was drafted, and it couldn’t have come soon enough. Still, while an insignificant thing like a facility had Simmons worked up for an infinitesimal amount of time, once he saw the rest of The City of Brotherly Love, he knew he was home.

“I kind of saw the city, and was amazed, because it’s a great city,” Simmons said. “(There’s a) lot of culture behind it, the people were great, and the fans were true fans. That side of it was great. Then, once the new facility came into play, it was perfect.”

It didn’t take long for Simmons to become the star Philadelphia desperately needed, helping lead a 76ers team that was just as desperate for wins.

The ‘Trust the Process’ mantra echoed across the city, and Simmons emerged as the central piece of it. So, when the 76ers reached the .500 mark for the first time since 2013, it marked a turning of the leaf for 76ers basketball, Australian basketball, and Simmons already-storied career.

Brett Brown, David Simmons, and Julie Simmons. Source: AP

Simmons’ urgency to get to the NBA is paying off, and the Melburnian has long been the favourite to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award; a prize that would only validate the guard’s unwavering confidence in himself.

“I believe in myself,” Simmons said. “As long as I work hard, I believe I’m gonna have a good game, every game. Even if I don’t perform the way I wanna perform, if I go out there and play hard, that’s all I can ask for.”

LeBron James calls him ‘Young King’, while the rest of the NBA community has inundated Simmons with nicknames that span across the board, from ‘Fresh Prince’, to ‘Big Ben’, to the very Australian ‘Simmo’.

David Simmons, father of Ben, and a former Melbourne Tigers forward, had that ‘Simmo’ moniker, and the former NBL import is often pointed at, as the person who’s had the most significant impact on his son’s career.

While that impact was, and is, immense, never underestimate the power of a mother. Particularly, the resolute Julie Simmons.

“I’m definitely grounded because of her,” Ben said of his mother.

“Most Aussies know that she’s a typical Australian mum, that has a son in the NBA, and a husband who played professional basketball, and a big family.

“It’s tough for her, because she’s at games and people are coming up to her, saying ‘thank you’, and giving her compliments, so that part is tough on her, but, away from the court and the lights, we’re just a happy family.

“I think she’s done a great job holding everybody together, and raising everybody the right away.”

Ben Simmons is just trying to be the best player the sport has ever seen, but, whenever he has the opportunity to take part in the life of a ‘normal’ 21-year-old, he’ll embrace it with both hands.

He’s ‘Young King’, ‘Fresh Prince’, ‘Simmo’; all of the above. Sort of.

“As long as it’s not ‘Benny’,” Simmons chuckled. “Benny is something my mum calls me.”

And, with that, he grinned, showing an impish glimpse of the old Benny. Some things never change.

***

Olgun Uluc covers basketball for Fox Sports Australia. Twitter: @OlgunUluc