Ben Simmons named to NBA East All-Star team, but Tobias Harris is snubbed

TAMPA, Fla. — Ben Simmons keeps his NBA All-Star status.

Despite declining offensive stats, the 76ers point guard was named an NBA Eastern Conference All-Star reserve for the third consecutive season.

“It means a lot,” he said of being selected. “It’s a blessing. I don’t take it for granted, as there’s a lot of talented guys out there. I think the mentality I have every season is coming in trying to win, and everything else will take care of itself .

“I don’t go for individual accolades until it’s defensive player of the year, which I want to get this year. I think I should be up there.”

But Simmons want to compete. He wants to play against the NBA’s best players every night and show why he’s in the league.

The reserves, selected by the league’s coaches, were announced on TNT Tuesday before the 7:35 p.m. tip-off of the Sixers’ game against the Toronto Raptors at the Amalie Arena. The 70th All-Star Game will be on March 7 in Atlanta.

“I mean listen, I really like Ben Simmons’s toughness,” Raptors coach Nick Nurse said of the 6-foot-10, 240-pounder. “I’m not giving you a headline there. The guy’s big and strong, and he’s physical, and he is tough, man.

“He takes it off people, and he bangs them off their feet. He’s one of those running backs that get in the open field and see a guy and goes right at them and make him pay for not getting out of the way sometimes.”

Simmons will join teammate Joel Embiid, who was named an All-Star starter for the fourth consecutive season on Thursday. This marks the third consecutive season that both players were named All-Stars.

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The team, however, had hoped to have three All-Stars. Tobias Harris, who never has been selected, was an All-Star snub despite having the best season of his 10-year career. He was also had All-Star-worthy seasons in 2019 as a member of the Los Angeles Clippers and a couple of years before that with the Detroit Pistons.

“An NBA All-Star is for players who are consistent and play each game at the highest level, with not taking off games,” said Torrel Harris, who is Tobias’s agent. “Tobias has helped lead his team to be in first place in the Eastern Conference. It’s very disappointing that Tobias Harris was not selected.”

Tobias Harris was averaging a career-best 20.6 points, 3.4 assists, and 0.8 blocks per game heading into Tuesday’s game. He also averaged 7.8 rebounds and was shooting 40.3% on three-pointers.

Harris did not speak to the media following the 109-102 victory, which improved the Sixers to 21-11. However, his instagram post said it all.

He posted a picture of his playing the song “Political As Usual” in the Reasonable Doubt album by Jay-Z.

“I was really hoping for Tobias,” Doc Rivers said. “I do believe he deserves it. He’s been an All-Star player this year for us. We have the best record in the East. And because of that, and that way that he’s played, I thought he deserved to be on it.

“I think we have to keep analyzing you know how guys get numbers, and how much they affect winning.”

Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown, Brooklyn Nets guard James Harden, Chicago Bulls guard Zach LaVine, New York Knicks power forward Julius Randle, Celtics forward Jayson Tatum and Orlando Magic center Nikola Vučević joined Simmons as East reserves.

The Western Conference reserves are Los Angeles Lakers power forward Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Clippers swingman Paul George, Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert, Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard, Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell, Phoenix Suns point guard Chris Paul and New Orleans Pelicans power forward Zion Williamson.

Rivers was asked before the game the announcement about having a conversation with a snubbed player so they don’t get discouraged.

“They get disappointed for one night and they prove the rest of the year that they should have made the All-Star team,” Rivers said. “We are playing for something bigger, honestly, and I also think it’s phenomenal.”

However, the coach thought the Sixers should have had three All-Stars.

Sacrificing his game, Simmons is averaging a career-low 15.7 points to go with 8.3 rebounds, 7.9 assists, and 1.7 steals. He’s been a multifaceted player for the Sixers, lining up at point guard, forward, and center.

“I was pretty positive he would make it,” Rivers said. “I think coaches look at the whole game. They look at all the things that Ben does. It’s funny every coach I talked to, literally every Eastern coach I talked to, when I said I’m calling on behalf of Ben and Tobias. They were like Ben. Why are you call about him?

“You know it was funny how they looked at it, and the outside world looked at.”

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Lakers forward LeBron James (West) and Nets forward Kevin Durant (East) led the 10 starters chosen in voting by fans, players, and a panel of reporters, and announced Thursday. The fans accounted for 50% of the voting, with media members and players accounting for 25% each.

James and Durant will serve as team captains after finishing as the top vote-getters in their respective conferences. The captains will select their rosters from the pool of players voted as starters and reserves on March 4. Rivers and his Sixers staff will coach Team Durant in the All-Star Game.

Starters from the East are Durant, Embiid, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo, Washington Wizards shooting guard Bradley Beal, and Nets point guard Kyrie Irving.

For the Western, the starters are James, Clippers small forward Kawhi Leonard, Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić, Golden State Warriors point guard Steph Curry, and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Dončić.

The format of the All-Star Game will be the same as last season. Teams will compete to win the first, second, and third quarters before reaching a final target score during an untimed fourth quarter.

The All-Star Game was originally scheduled for Feb. 14 in Indianapolis, but it was postponed due to COVID-19. The Pacers instead are expected to host NBA All-Star weekend Feb. 16-18, 2024.

The NBA’s first half of the season is scheduled to end on March 4. The second half of the NBA season is scheduled to run from March 11 to May 16.

“There’s All-Stars left off of every All-Star team,” Rivers said. “There’s more than 12 All-Stars. There just is. Unfortunately, that is our number.”