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The first head Ben Simmons turned in his summer league debut was his own.
Sprinting down the court to start a fast break, the top pick in last month's NBA draft looked away and then threw an inch-perfect bounce pass to a streaking teammate some 25 feet up the floor.
"The ball moves faster than the players," Simmons said. "I saw the opportunity to dish it, so I did that."
The 19-year-old Aussie's passing is remarkable, particularly for a player of his size. In two games in Salt Lake City this week, the 6-foot-10 forward looked like a veteran point guard as he dished out no-look and behind-the-back highlights that were instantly uploaded and endlessly looped on social media.
Simmons' vision is remarkable, but a superstar without a jumper may be harder to envision.
What exactly did fans see this week? A franchise-changing talent? A young Magic in a LeBron-like body? Or did they witness a talent who is more highlight reel than Hall of Fame?
Simmons dished out 11 assists over two games in Utah and would have had more if he had been surrounded by better talent and players more accustomed and ready for the types of passes only Simmons seems to be able to see on the court.
In Philadelphia this season, the phenom will likely be a point-forward, defending big men on one end of the court and running the Sixers' offense on the other.
"Everyone wants to put a label to it, but he's a basketball player," 76ers assistant coach Billy Lange said. "He's a really good basketball player and this is summer league, so there is still a long journey ahead. I think that anyone that has watched enough basketball sees a skillset there that is really exciting."
Already, Simmons is capable of doing things few players of his size are capable of.
On one play Thursday night, Simmons crossed over his defender, drove baseline and zipped a bounce pass into the paint for a bucket. On another, Simmons pushed the ball up the court, spun to free himself from a trio of defenders and found an open teammate in the paint.
"It's hard to stop somebody who is 6-10, coming at you full speed," Simmons said. " As long as everybody else is running with me, I think good things can happen."
Said Jazz forward Trey Lyles, "You can tell he's ready for the league and he's going to be a good player."
But the Sixers' top pick also showcased his greatest weakness: scoring.
Simmons went 4-for-17 shooting in his two games in Salt Lake. He struggled to finish in traffic. Against the Jazz on Thursday night, Simmons got matched up with the bigger, slower Tibor Pleiss. Pleiss backed off, giving Simmons space off the elbow of the key. Simmons fired and clanked his jumper.
At the NBA level, teams will give Simmons space on the perimeter and pack the paint, forcing him to beat them in other ways. But for a player of Simmons' talents, that has its dangers, too.
"If you back off, he's such a great passer that now he sees the floor and can pick you apart," said Jazz assistant Johnnie Bryant.
Simmons' shot is so unreliable that he only attempted three 3-pointers during his year at LSU. Still, the Sixers are optimistic that he will develop that aspect of his game in time.
"I just don't think his personal shooting percentage is going to rattle him," Lange said. "I look at it as an encouraging thing. He's got room to grow. He's already this good and now he has a chance to get better at something else."
Until then, the Sixers will have to surround Simmons with shooters who can help relieve the pressure from defenses.
As for Simmons' own defensive abilities, the forward showed some encouraging signs this week. His effort at LSU — as well as questions about his attitude — had surfaced last season, causing speculation that Duke's Brandon Ingram would leapfrog him for the top overall pick. But the big-bodied Simmons was engaged defensively and with his teammates.
"Passing, ball-handling, confidence, his communications, swagger, enthusiasm, love for teammates," Lange said when asked what he has seen from Simmons. "It wasn't about him. … It was the first thing I noticed. He just was excited to be 19 years old, around a bunch of guys and to put that logo on his chest."
Only time will tell what Simmons can become, but his skillset truly gives him a chance to be a game-changer for a Philadelphia franchise that has languished for years.
Twitter: @tribjazz