Simmons is in the running for the Rookie of the Year award by virtue of a quirk of NBA practice. According to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the agreement between the NBA and its Players Association, a player is credited with a year of service for any year in which they spend a day on an NBA roster, whether it is on the active list or not. Simmons, then, is technically a second year player even though he missed the entirety of his rookie campaign. But from the point of view of the Rookie of the Year campaign and from the marketing of the game in general, Simmons is considered to be a rookie - after all, this is the first year in which he has played any games. It is a double-standard, but it is a useful one when marketing.

Nevertheless, in having had a year of NBA life, NBA film sessions and NBA weight rooms, Simmons was the direct beneficiary of greater preparation for his 'rookie' season than all his rivals for the award have had. And perhaps this is why he started off with such a bang.

Simmons recorded a triple-double in only his fourth career game, and averaged an amazing 18.4 points, 9.1 rebounds and 7.7 assists per game in his first professional month. Opposing team already knew to give him the jumper, given how poor he is as a shooter, yet they seemingly did not realise quite how truly special Simmons was and is as a passer on the move.

Given shooters to throw to, Simmons is a threat probing into any kind of space. His own shot is currently no threat and something opposing teams want him to take, yet giving Simmons licence to shoot jumpers is not to say he should be given too much space. If he has space, Simmons can get a head start on the drive, be it driving to score or to pass - additionally, if a defender is not up in his face trying to deny space, then Simmons has a much clearer line of sight for passing angles, especially in his 6'9 frame.

Defensively, Simmons is also ahead of the curve. Whether he is a point guard or point forward matters not - the most important thing is that there is always an opponent he can check. And check them he does. The same awareness, athleticism, length and foot speed that he employs on the offensive end also works for him defensively, and Simmons's impact on that end - compare his 103 defensive rating to that of the 110 of Jerryd Bayless, who often subs in for him - is impressive for one so young.