Ben Simmons creates basketball history by winning prestigious award

Melbourne’s own Ben Simmons has become the first Australian basketballer to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award.

The prestigious honour is given to the league’s best player in their first season.

Simmons, from Box Hill, held off stiff competition from Donovan Mitchell and Jayson Tatum.

Both players would have won the award in most other seasons, highlighting just how strong the field of contenders was.

Simmons joins legends like Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Larry Bird and Shaquille O’Neal on the honour roll.

Click PLAY below to see Andrew Gaze’s reaction