Nick Wright on Ben Simmons declaring he's the 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year | FIRST THINGS FIRST

[@FirstThingsFirst]

Who should win Rookie of the Year this season?

[@probmal]

Donavon Mitchell

[@anthonys___n8022]

First Things First: Cris Carter and Nick Wright ⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆⬆

[@Rawbucks99]

First Things First: Cris Carter and Nick Wright Ben

[@georgiabulldogs6280]

First Things First: Cris Carter and Nick Wright Donavan Mitchell

[@michaelbrice5169]

I think it should be Mitchell because Simmons is not a true rookie. He has an edge being in the NBA for a year prior to rest of the class.

[@kalvinjohnson335]

Everyone swears they want a super confident and non apologetic star, and then they get one and complain

[@michaelbrice5169]

Kalvin Johnson it’s all in the delivery. It’s a little off putting but I get it. Something to be said about being humble

[@makehumanitygreatagain8128]

"Everyone" in your imagination?

[@ShaqTown]

Doesn't matter if your a true rookie or not until the NBA changes the rules he's the rookie of the year... Embied getting hurt helped his case too

[@Shaunodon95]

"Embied getting hurt helped his case too". So Mitchell averaging 23pts on 50% shooting during December while Gobert was injured means nothing? For all Simmons talks about "look at the numbers", I'm not sure many of his supporters have actually looked at Mitchell's monthly splits. What would he be averaging if you took out the first two months? You think he wouldn't be averaging that over a year if he was a red shirt rookie, possibly more?

[@ShaqTown]

Shaunodon95 Nope it doesn't because life is always what have you done for me lately... People voting are gonna remember Simmons leading Philly to 14 or 15 straight at the end of the season

[@Shaunodon95]

Jazz play GSW today and Blazers tomorrow. They don't even have to win both, but if they beat Blazers they will be 3rd seed in the WESTERN conference, with a rookie leading them in scoring. Is that recent enough?

[@BerryMckHawkener]

DJ ShaqTown doesn’t matter what the rule is. Doesn’t force you to vote for who actually is ROTY.

[@georgiabulldogs6280]

DJ ShaqTown Donavan Mitchell

[@Midori_Ringo]

funny how no-one cried about Blake Griffin and Pau Gasol winning ROTY, funny how no-one cried about Jason Kidd and Grant Hill not having a jumpshot when they won ROTY. Funny how all these excuses come out now

[@unbiasedbasketballstan3221]

kohkaeable Oh trust me there were people complaining. I was one of em. Social media back then was just not how it is today. Simmons is not a rookie. Straight up. He had an entire year getting mentally and physically ready for the game. While the real rookies were turning in essays and training with inferior support.

[@Midori_Ringo]

Yeah right, look I was on various bball forums since the mid to late 90's. There were people complaining but not like this. 99% people were wetting their pants at the highlight reels. Also I want to point out, around all star break people were saying Simmons shouldn't be an All-star because he's a rookie, 3 months later he shouldn't be roty because he's not a rookie. Hypocrisy much?

[@infiniteimprovement]

I didn't hear anyone complaining about embiid last year either. The only reason we didn't give it to him was because he only played 31 games out of 82.

[@SpeedinBulletPodcast]

Sixers are 2-0 against the Jazz, game 1- Ben 16/13/6 (no Embiid), Don 3/8/1, Game 2- Ben 27/10/2, Don- 17/5/4, Ben- 37 Double Double, 12 Triple Doubles, Don 0 Double Doubles, 0 Triple Doubles, what are we really debating, I wish the sixers drafter Donovan Mitchel instead of Faultz but also i sat behind Donovan Mitchels family at the sixers game and they're really nice people actually gave me a utah shirt

[@xavier76thman]

Reginald White Awesome post👍

[@_r.i.t.z._81]

That what Mitchell has done is more impressive coming in as a true rookie leading his team in scoring and being the go to guy for a team that is in position to get home court during the playoffs

[@KuroToshiro]

Jaylen how is that more impressive than Ben? Ben is the point guard of the team, he literally runs the whole offense..Mitchell's only responsibility is to score..while Ben has to play call, get others involved get assists, score, and control their pace. Sixers are going to get home court as well..Sixers only had 28 wins last year, the Jazz had 51..only 8 players in nba history have averaged 16, 8 and 8 in a season and Ben is doing it on 54% shooting and is #6 in defensive win shares as well..That is insanely efficient. Mitchell scoring 20 ppg on 44% shooting is not that impressive comparatively. You can say Ben is not a true rookie or whatever..but I highly doubt Mitchell will average 8 assists next year or 8 rebounds or shoot over 50% for a season. Ben should've been an allstar and should definitely make an all nba team.

[@angelh3737]

Lol I saw embiid play last season and tatum 2 months ago bro. I try to see the best young players every season. Embiid is even better in person his footwork is fluid as fk.

[@AAL.]

everybody knows Ben Simmons is better than Donavan Mitchell it's just determining if Ben Simmons is a rookie or not and that's weak asf 😂

[@Spider702]

Why does CC call it the “MBA”.....?

[@guip1408]

NBA should start considering rookies only from that year draft class, if you didn't get injured is a plus for you. But since they don't, Ben Simmons is ROTY.

[@Seif97ify]

So who actually had the advantage? The guy who spent a second year in college and actually played basketball games, or the guy who spent the entite year recovering from an injury and played 0 basketball games?

[@TheBenkoKid]

Well, look at all the rookies that didn't play in their first year. This includes Pau Gasol, Blake Griffin and Joel Embiid. They are came strong in their first playing season but the common denominator in them is they took a year to learn the system.

[@BatYahYisrael1]

He trained, travelled and practiced with the team, so yes, that is very impactful.

[@hoopsjunction4928]

I like it shows confidence he’s averaging 15 pts , 8 reb and 8 assists and his team in 3rd place he’s a bad boy not everyone has to be humble all the time calm down

[@laker249]

Lonzo Ball wins Drama of Year Award.

[@shawnchia3611]

Why is Chris Carter always looking at something in mid-air while Nick is talking lol?

[@Mektek19]

Nick is talking about his physical develop from LSU till now but again dude didn't do his research. It was immediately after LSU when he was getting ready for his combine stuff that he had significant gains. Go watch his documentary and he talks about it. He work hard for a couple of months.

[@matteo4413]

Ben Simmons sophomore of the year

[@Rushking20]

Donovan came straight out of school doing this love simmons but he had a year to learn the NBA lifestyle and practiced with his team who are pros

[@mikatteba225]

1. Donovan has spent two years to get ready!! 2. Ben Simmons was injured last year which means that he didn't sit back on purpose otherwise he could at least play in the NBAGL. 3. Ben was NBA ready since 2016 (just look at 2016 summer league) last year He would easily be ROY without injury.

[@mikatteba225]

1. Donovan has spent two years to get ready!! 2. Ben Simmons was injured last year which means that he didn't sit back on purpose otherwise he could at least play in the NBAGL. 3. Ben was NBA ready since 2016 (just look at 2016 summer league) last year He would easily be ROY without injury.

[@octaviocortes4186]

How can he practice when he was hurt????? It’s not a big deal it’s just an award

[@nasir2390]

Didn't Mitchell stay 2 years at Louisville with a legendary former NBA coach in Rick pitino?

[@thomarscarter]

Ben Simmons for rookie of the year

[@nixxy13]

1:53 Cris sounds like he would love Ben Simmons to rub him the wrong way.

[@FejSkaz]

!WHAT HE SAID WAS TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT! He was asked who he'd vote for and he said "Me, 100%" He did not say "I am ROY 100%" So unfair to Ben painting him like an a hole.

[@1Flyingfist]

Fej Skaz I started to post something similar, but discarded it. It didn't sound cocky to me, given the context of the question that he was asked.

[@Jojo-cm7hv]

Yes. He is being fairly misjudged. They are missing how he was asked. He did not say "Before we start this interview I am the ROTY". People need to relax

[@sonnyjem]

i agree what is wrong with someone believing in himself.... MJ LEBRON both did exactly the same thing

[@haroldk9369]

He is and its not close

[@nickfriend4633]

I am falling LOVE with Ben Simmons. Not just his play on the court, but his attitude too now. He speaks his mind and only his mind and does not sugar coat things which I love. He's been doing this since college too when he got to LSU and didn't go to a class because he was "going to the NBA". This kid is no longer the future, he's the now. Talked about this on my channel today.

[@nickfriend4633]

100 percent. Between him and Embiid it is the best team in the NBA in terms of honesty and man is that refreshing.

[@jeffkell5763]

How are people mad at him for being confident in his play during this year

[@StefveoX]

I'll tell you why Ben Simmons shouldn't have said what he said, or maybe should've phrased it a different way. Donovan Mitchell was on First Take with SAS and Max like a week ago, and when asked about the competition to ROTY, Mitchell said something along the lines of "I respect what Ben is doing, and I'm just trying to focus on winning for my team." Now think of how Ben Simmons responded to that question. It just shows the difference in maturity level and self-awareness. Also, it's not that "clear cut". Mitchell as a rookie has been the best player on his team, a playoff team in the far superior conference. Ben Simmons is by far not the best player on his team. Simmons is a beast, don't get me wrong, but he and Mitchell are both up there and both deserve the award. But the way Simmons handled himself, I'm not too hot on him right now.

[@samuelrowe1454]

So Mitchell's beta then.

[@StefveoX]

Tim Duncan was beta too. That shouldn't be a determining factor for who's better.

[@zhyonflowers4514]

Well he's ben simmons not mitchell so dont expect him to act like someones hes not. Hes ben Simmons so expect him to respond as such.

[@Griezus]

I dont think what Ben said was wrong or immature at all and Im a Utah fan. I like when a player says what he really thinks. This attitude reminds me of MJ and I love it.

[@Onlyrealmusic4life]

Well yeah because Ben Simmons deserves it over Mitchell lol pretty simple really

[@ps4haslag588]

Of course Nick Wright doesn't mention that Michael Jordan made all NBA second team as a rookie

[@everquintanilla1663]

Ben Simmons should be rookie of the year he been doing this since the start of the 2017-2018 and has 12 triples-double

[@GoogleMe_]

3:46 shots fired? 🔫

[@BillTheConquerer]

A slight comparison to Ichiro being awarded the ROY? I realize the age difference as well as Ichiro had more professional development. Nevertheless, there is a comparison to be made.

[@Redsox3600]

Shouldn't be considered a rookie... I hate that they can basically Red Shirt and still be considered a rookie. I honestly believe he will continue to deal with injuries.

[@josefranciscomontescandia8827]

Big Ben For ROY

[@therealhooptalk4137]

What is the “mba”

[@jacobkrivoshia9306]

Why is no one talking about Jason Tatum?

[@kinglamar3192]

"MBA"major basketball association.

[@pamperkingjazi7397]

BEN IS BEING HONEST AND HUMBLE ABOUT IT .. MITCHELL IS GOOD BUT BEN IS A GAME CHANGER GREAT SO SHUT UP STOP HATING PHILLYBALLKILLAS

[@reaganli1254]

People arguing over "eligibility" of ROY because if we actually talked about on-court performance, Ben would win ROY without debate.

[@ldimter2208]

Ben Simmons is the unanimous ROTY and a future all time great.

[@zaddybigd735]

It doesn't matter if he had one year Under his belt. At the end off the day I don't care how much nba professional help you get. You have to perform at the highest level & Ben Simmons has done that.

[@bellabana]

Context is everything!!! Ben Simmons was asked by a reporter ‘who would you vote for as Roty’ & he replied ‘me, 100%’ yet that part is being ignored by these guys just to create a story! Regardless Simmons IS by far the Roty, that’s a fact!

[@iyonko818]

I rather have an all around player, than just a player who can shoot 🤷🏽‍♂️and Simmons is the better all around player so he’s obviously ROTY

[@deehollywood6013]

Simmons is very good, but is the second best player on his team. Mitchell is the #1 option who replaced an allstar and is the best player in his team. Either is a good pick.

[@truthbetold4537]

If Ben Simmons can be counted as a rookie this year then he should be the rookie of the year they should change that though because he's not a pure rookie that would be donavan Mitchell he did it the natural way.

[@aaronwrigley9236]

Ben ain’t unanimous Roty but he will win it but you can make a case for both, in Donovan’s case, elite scorer, and unguardable on the offensive need and can shoot and it’s a little unfair that ben had a year to learn everything, but in bens case, dominates every way of the game with or without the ball, rebounds, passing etc and he is averaging nearly 17 points a game without a jumpshot so all those people who say he can’t shoot well your team still struggles to guard him 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@Koolej98]

I thought Tyreke Evans averaged 20 his rookie year

[@stephenschulte455]

Bottom line is it's not about that Ben Simmons said that he's 100% Rookie of the Year it's the fact that he disregarded Donovan and every other rookie completely don't underestimate your competitor that's a biggest mistake you can make don't be so arrogant that you think you're floating on clouds above everybody else your one injury a streak of Bad Games away from being nobody stay humble and remember that

[@leroycox77]

Oh so when rookies try to get get cocky and competitive on and off the court it's frowned on..yet everyone wanna cry about how the game soft..ok

[@marcuslouisjunior4706]

I will go with Simmons

[@sizecarter5175]

if simmons just practice that f. away jump shot we use to see from aldrige he surely become the new goat

[@theadventuresofmitchman1511]

For those of you who think this is Ben Simmons' sophomore season, shouldn't he be the runaway winner for Most Improved? I mean, if you look at the stats.. 0 PPG --> 16.0 PPG 0 APG --> 8.2 APG 0 RPG --> 8.1 RPG

[@truthbetold4537]

The Adventures of Mitchman he shouldn't be that either. He has a clear advantage over all other rookies he's had more practice time so that would make him not eligible for me anyway

[@AoNLobby]

He’s not a fuking rookie. He had one extra year of not going to class and getting stronger in an NBA facility these things matters. Ben should not be considered a rookie.

[@MarBamba]

TheHSdropout Guys develop their game much more in college. That’s why some guys take 2-3 years in the NBA to show development. And he played for rick pitino. A hall of fame former NBA coach so how do you think he ran Louisville?

[@trashboy7123]

TheHSdropout ben had a broken foot dude

[@dockenny8764]

Until NBA changes the rules Ben Simmons is clear cut rookie of the year

[@nasir2390]

Blake Griffin. I rest my case

[@christophermauro-barias5255]

Ben Simmons should have kept his mouth shut.

[@Fergus316]

So I guess no one should stay for a second year of college like Donovan Mitchell. Competitive college ball is worth less than a year injured in the NBA

[@jake567100]

Everyone saying Mitchell has that mamba mentality but then start calling Ben arrogant for saying something Kobe would say lol okay

[@skineyemin4276]

Ben Simmons should not qualify as a rookie for this season., he was drafted in 2016. It's now 2018. That's kind of a scam.

[@carloscaponpon8841]

in the end its co rookie of the year mitchell and simmons...

[@jessev3239]

He will be the ROTY with *

[@samurai3991]

Did anyone pick Utah to be 4th seed let alone in the playoffs. They really should change that rule , but Ben Simmons is going to win the ROY.

[@50pisotonic38]

Donovan Mitchell is the ROY

[@peternut358]

Jenna was filthy her player Mitchell didn’t win and 3 years on she’s still hating on Simmons.

[@bluewave3417]

Simmons shouldn't even be eligible. ROY should be reserved players picked in the preceding draft. That's no knock against what Simmons has done this year. But spending a year with an NBA team is a huge advantage.

[@madmaxx4793]

BlueWave IDK why ppl aren't even considering tjis

[@moonmanmike1343]

BlueWave you crying out it won’t change it. Lmaooo

[@MarBamba]

So it should be “best rookie of 2017 draft class” not rookie of the year

[@AngelMaySin17]

Same goes for Blake griffin too then right?

[@infiniteimprovement]

Yet no one ever talks about how spending an extra year or two in college might help a player when we have these discussions.

[@26Cortez]

Oh ok had to rewind dat I guess Duncan fall out da 20 years

[@flipflops7345]

I just realized every sports talk show got 1 black dude and 1 white lmao FS1 First take and this show lmao

[@sharks4soccer]

Ben Simmons put that weight on last year. Its why he broke his foot.

[@klephenthurry3284]

Mitchel and Simmons, focus on wins man not awards. Freaking Tyreke Evans was considered better then Curry and won ROTY look where those two at now.

[@calebr6039]

Not a rookie

[@jimgarofolo8197]

He obviously has been unless u believe in opinions over statistics

[@marcus-bob]

Nick wright gonna hitch a ride on ben simmons after lebron is gone

[@nathant3464]

Mitchell is an actual rookie

[@sonnyjem]

they making it a big thing out of this. come on lebron reckon he should win the MVP this year. why? normal people don't understand when you see someone believing in himself

[@vinnythewebsurfer]

Duh.

[@lemar2122]

Ben Simmons is not a true rookie..

[@phillyjackson45]

He is tho...

[@kingganksta3893]

Philly Prince he my fav player under 25 but he is NOT a true rookie

[@mikatteba225]

Mitchell spent two years in college, Simmons spent 1 years in college and one year injured, what's the difference?

[@mikatteba225]

+KING Ganksta just want to know what makes him a "false" rookie?

[@bellabana]

Mr Smarty-pants not true as Simmons played ZERO games last year so therefore he IS a rookie, fact!

[@liamowen9695]

Pick Mitchell, a real rookie, over this always injured Simmons in his 2nd year

[@dennismartin3767]

Liam Owen he had one injury stop hatin

[@kenan-b]

Proof that most of the people who talk about ball don't really watch ball. "Always injured Simmons" dude literally had one injury that he needed surgery on and has looked better than ever lol

[@dennismartin3767]

Least somebody knows what there talking about

[@Muzi03]

Mitchell spent 2 years in college. Does that mean hes not a true rookie

[@bellabana]

Liam Owen how many games did Simmons play last year??? Zero, so therefore he IS a rookie, that’s a fact!

[@yungdro247]

If Ben Simmons continues to improve every year he's going to surpass MJ as the GOAT

[@baselinejordan1744]

yungdro247 😂😂😂