Sixers’ Ben Simmons not Selected to NBA All-Star Game
Through more than half of his third NBA season, Philadelphia Sixers point guard Ben Simmons has dazzled and filled up the stat sheet during his first professional season.
Despite some of the most impressive numbers, including four triple-doubles and 18 double-doubles, it wasn’t enough to call him an NBA All-Star.
As announced on TNT Tuesday, Simmons was left out of the 2018 All-Star game that includes 14 reserves, seven from the Eastern Conference, named to the game.
Booker, 21, has averaged 16.3 points, 7.2 assists and 7.9 rebounds in 42 games this season. He’s sixth in assists per game and ranks third in triple-doubles this season.
Reserves for the All-Star game were selected by the NBA’s head coaches, with the starters being named by 50 percent of a fan vote, 25 percent from a media vote and 25 percent from a player vote, including Sixers teammate Joel Embiid, who was named a All-Star game starter.
Philly has only had two All-Stars since Allen Iverson was last made the team in 2009-10: Andre Iguodala (2011-12) and Jrue Holiday (2012-13).
For the first time in the history of the game, the teams will be picked by two captains who earn the most votes in their respective conference, LeBron James for the East and Steph Curry for the West.
The All-Star game takes place in Los Angeles on Feb. 18.