Lakers 2016-17 Schedule: 5 Most Important Games

5. Philadelphia 76ers vs Los Angeles Lakers — March 12, 2017

The first official game between Ben Simmons and Brandon Ingram will happen three months prior to this game when the two teams meet in December. However, this March game is the more important of the two. Barring any serious injuries, the two rookies will undoubtedly be further along in their development by the time this matchup rolls around. Both should be comfortable in their respective rotations and have enough NBA experience to be able to put on a good show.

As is the case with any top two picks of a draft, Simmons and Ingram will be forever linked and compared to one another. After seeing flashes of brilliance from both players, fans’ minds will start to wander. Sixers fans will sometimes wish they had taken Ingram over Simmons. Likewise, Lakers fans will wonder how different things would be if they’d had the chance to land Ben Simmons.

Another storyline heading into this game is that it could be a determining factor in the Rookie of The Year race. Simmons, Ingram, and possibly Kris Dunn are expected to battle for the award all season. Depending on what their respective seasons look like by this point, this game could be just enough to give one the edge over the other. By March 12, there will only be one full month left of the NBA regular season. Therefore, this matchup could be a great chance for one of these rookies to separate himself from one another.

Headlined by Simmons and Ingram, this year’s rookie class features stars that will be the future of the NBA. The top-two picks facing off will be a juicy matchup for years to come and this March 12 meeting should be just one of many.