Ben Simmons has had a drama-filled debut game for the Philadelphia 76ers, showing glimpses of why he could be the NBA's next great player before being carried off the court in agony.
The Australian 19-year-old cramped up in the second half of the 76ers' 102-94 loss to the Boston Celtics in an NBA Summer League game in Salt Lake City, Utah, on Monday.
With four minutes to go Simmons was blocked on a lay-up and as he came down his calves in both legs seized up.
He fell to the court and then had to crawl beyond the baseline where he winced in pain while the game continued.
"It's an adjustment, obviously," Simmons, who blamed the cramping on not drinking enough fluids and his four month layoff from playing a full game, said.
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He also found the pace different from US college basketball.
Simmons said he would sit out the 76ers Summer League game against the San Antonio Spurs on Tuesday.
"The game is a lot harder and a lot quicker," he said
"It's one of those things you just got to stay on it."
Boston only had a two point lead when the cramps felled Simmons.
Without the Australian on the court the 76ers were no match and the Celtics ran away with the game.
Simmons had warned he could be rusty as it was his first game since March 12 when he played his finale for Louisiana State University.
The NBA's number one draft pick was impressive before going down, scoring 10 points, eight rebounds and five assists from almost 24 minutes on the court.
He drew rave reviews for his performance, which included a selfless pass first attitude, a dunk, a behind the head assist and a pinpoint half-court bounce pass that resulted in a dunk.
The Celtics' recent number three draft pick Jaylen Brown had a strong game with 16 points, four rebounds and six assists.
