The Sixer Sense
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Why was Ben Simmons snubbed from the All-Star game?

By Christopher Kline

PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 6: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers falls into the crowd after making a basket and getting fouled in the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at the Wells Fargo Center on February 6, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - FEBRUARY 6: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers falls into the crowd after making a basket and getting fouled in the first quarter against the Washington Wizards at the Wells Fargo Center on February 6, 2018 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia 76ers should have two All-Stars, so why don’t they?

In the least shocking news of the season, Philadelphia 76ers rookie Ben Simmons was snubbed from the All-Star team (again) in lieu of the Kristaps Porzingis injury. Kemba Walker will be suiting up on Feb. 18 instead.

Walker is a deserving candidate, but the fact that Simmons was snubbed four times is borderline insane. Goran Dragic, as special as Miami’s season has been, doesn’t deserve the nod, while Andre Drummond‘s case isn’t as strong as some make it out to be.

John Wall didn’t really earn his initial All-Star berth, while Kyle Lowry was in the same general tier as Simmons. The NBA, in one way or another, had plenty of opportunities to get Simmons into the game. They chose not to.

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More than anything else, I think this comes down to narratives and how they tend to work against Simmons. He’s a rookie who can’t shoot, which more often than not is going to draw the ire of fans who don’t watch him on an everyday basis.

Everyday fans aren’t the ones making this decision, but their general thoughts and opinions normally have some leverage in the league office. Simmons doesn’t have the raw stats (re: scoring) to match up to guys like Walker either.

In general, I think we as fans put too much emphasis on scoring in relation to the All-Star game. If you aren’t an elite scorer or on an elite team, there’s virtually no chance you’re making it to the big game. Drummond is the only exception to that rule, and he didn’t make the originial roster.

Simmons doesn’t shoot and is only averaging 16.6 points per game, which is third-best on the SIxers. He’s top-five in the league when it comes to assists and is grabbing close to eight rebounds per game, but that is often underscored by the fact that Simmons — by virtue of his role and skill set — is a more limited scorer than some of his counterparts.

That doesn’t mean his impact on the game is diminished, though. He’s spearheading an offense that’s towards the top of the league in pace and assists, all while emerging as an elite defender on the other end. Most rookies struggle on both ends; Simmons is a legitimate two-way star.

Drummond has made significant strides defensively this season, but neither Walker nor Dragic are remotely close to Simmons when it comes to defensive impact. At 6-10, Simmons is averaging 1.8 steals and 0.9 blocks while giving the Sixers impressive versatility on that side of the ball. His frame and instincts just aren’t easy to find.

A daily triple-double threat who has spent time guarding both Russell Westbrook and Giannis Antetokounmpo this season, it’s virtually impossible to justify keeping Simmons out of the game entirely.

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You can argue he didn’t deserve to make the initial cut, but selecting three additional reserves after that is almost upsetting. The dude deserves to be playing next Sunday.