Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell is certainly in the conversation for 2018 NBA Rookie of the Year but the other guy in that discussion, Ben Simmons, doesn't think it's up for debate.
According to ESPN, the Sixers' rookie recently said that he's "100 percent" the pick. "I think I have been playing solid all year," Simmons told ESPN. "If you look at the numbers, you will see. People who know the game know." When asked about other rookies that have caught his attention this season, Simmons responded, "none."
Shortly after Simmons' comments were made public, Mitchell took to social media with a tweet of his own and then liked a couple of tweets containing quotes from Simmons' interview with ESPN.
In 77 games this season, Mitchell leads all rookies with 20.5 points per game and has taken the Jazz from a lottery team to the 4th seed in the wildly competitive Western Conference. Additionally, the 6'3 guard became the fastest rookie in league history to knock down 150 3-pointers, reaching the mark in 63 games, according to ESPN.
With two games remaining in the regular season, Mitchell also ranks second on the all-time 3-point rookie list, as he is just seven three-pointers shy of the rookie record of 185, which was set by Damian Lillard.
On the other hand, Simmons is averaging 16.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game for the third place Sixers. He has also recorded 12 triple-doubles which puts him second in league history for rookies, behind Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson who had 26 such games, according to ESPN.