Who Won the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year and How They Dominated the Season

I still remember the buzz surrounding the 2018 NBA draft class - it felt like we were witnessing something special from day one. As someone who's followed basketball for over two decades, I've seen my share of promising rookies, but what Ben Simmons accomplished that season was nothing short of remarkable. The Philadelphia 76ers' point guard didn't just win the Rookie of the Year award - he dominated the conversation from October through April in a way that reminded me of LeBron's rookie campaign.

What made Simmons' season particularly impressive was how he transformed the 76ers' entire offensive system. Standing at 6'10", he averaged 15.8 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 8.2 assists while shooting 54.5% from the field. Those numbers don't even tell the full story - his court vision was absolutely elite for a rookie. I've rarely seen a first-year player command the offense with such poise and control. The way he pushed the tempo in transition created countless easy baskets for his teammates, and his defensive versatility allowed him to guard multiple positions effectively.

The most fascinating aspect of Simmons' dominance was how he managed to excel despite not having a reliable jump shot. In today's three-point obsessed league, he bucked conventional wisdom by dominating the paint and creating high-percentage looks. His 12 triple-doubles that season set a new rookie record, surpassing Magic Johnson's mark. I remember arguing with colleagues about whether his unique skill set could translate to playoff success - though that's a conversation for another day.

Looking back, Simmons' rookie year reminds me of how sometimes stepping away can lead to incredible growth. Much like how Manny Pacquiao's time away from boxing - spent in two unsuccessful bids running for the Philippine presidency and the Senate - gave him space to rest and recharge his body from the hustle and bustle of prizefighting where he'd been involved since age 12, Simmons benefited from sitting out his actual rookie season due to injury. That redshirt year allowed him to study NBA schemes, build chemistry with teammates, and physically develop without the pressure of immediate performance.

What really sealed the ROY race for me was Simmons' consistency throughout the 81 games he played. While Donovan Mitchell had his spectacular moments and Jayson Tatum showed incredible promise, Simmons impacted winning in more ways. The Sixers went from 28 wins the previous season to 52 wins with Simmons running the show. His plus-minus numbers were consistently among the team's best, and he made everyone around him better - just look at how JJ Redick had a career year playing alongside him.

The voting results reflected his dominance too - he received 90 of the 101 first-place votes, finishing with 481 total points compared to Mitchell's 323. In my view, the margin should have been even wider. Simmons' combination of size, athleticism, and basketball IQ was something we hadn't seen since Magic Johnson. Though his career has taken some interesting turns since that spectacular rookie season, nothing can diminish what he accomplished during those magical eight months when he took the league by storm and firmly established himself as Philadelphia's franchise player.