On Tuesday night, the league announced the NBA All-Star Reserves for the 2020-21 season. Only one of the Philadelphia 76ers was included on the list…Not the one that I (or many others) expected. When I read Ben Simmons’ name on the list sent out by The Athletic’s Shams Charania, I was stunned. With the level Tobi has been playing at this season, I was locked into the idea that he would be rewarded for his contribution.
The image of Tobias Harris, Ben Simmons, and Joel Embiid together on the All-Star roster would have been truly incredible. As the Philadelphia 76ers dominate the Eastern Conference and are one of the best teams in the league, it would simply make sense if they had three of their star players honored with this award. But, if I had to choose just two players from the Sixers to be added to the list, it would be Embiid and Harris.
Yes, as of late Simmons has been playing like an All-Star, but over the course of the entire season, Harris has him beat. Tobi’s decision-making, shooting, and drive have lifted him to a whole other level on the Philadelphia 76ers.
Tobias Harris is playing the best basketball of his career for the Philadelphia 76ers.
So far this season (through 28 games played), he is averaging 20.6 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 3.4 assists. Compared to Simmons’s 15.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 7.9 assists in 26 games played. These stats don’t fully reflect these two player’s abilities, but it’s a reference to just how impactful Harris has been this season.
I’m not one for just solely looking at stats to see how great a player is. I’m definitely more of an “eye-test” type of basketball viewer. I look at numbers occasionally, but to really tell if I think a player is “All-Star-level” I need to actually watch them over a good amount of time, which is why I think that Harris deserves to be an All-Star.
Most players on the All-Star roster are the top players on their respected teams, but Tobi has done so much for the Sixers alongside his honored teammates. A huge difference for Harris is that he’s the third-best player on the best team in the Eastern Conference.
Doc Rivers, who will be coaching Team Durant in the All-Star Game, previously spoke about his feelings on Tobi in the running to make the roster,
"“Yet, fans, media, I hear talk about these guys on sub-.500 teams, and it just blows me away. Tobias can get the same numbers, anywhere, bigger numbers on a bad team, but what he’s doing is winning basketball. I think him and Ben should get more credit.”"
Though Harris could end up replacing a player if they drop out or get injured, that’s no way to become an All-Star. I think we can expect Tobi to push even harder this season to show everyone he deserved to be on that coveted roster.