Simmons questions what 'an All-Star is anymore' after latest snub
Ben Simmons is requesting some clarity.
The Philadelphia 76ers ball handler felt he had a strong case to join the league's best at the All-Star Game later this month after Kristaps Porzingis was ruled out with a torn anterior cruciate ligament. The league evidently didn't feel the same, however, as Charlotte Hornets point guard Kemba Walker was instead chosen to fill the void.
"I don't really know what an All-Star is anymore," Simmons told Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer. "I mean if it was about win-lose, you picked Dragic obviously and you pick Kemba, whose team is seven wins under us.
"It is what it is, but my stats don't lie."
It has been the members of Team LeBron who have suffered the major injuries leading up to the All-Star game. Paul George was the first replacement, followed by Andre Drummond, then Dragic, and finally Walker. They replaced DeMarcus Cousins, John Wall, Kevin Love, and Porzingis, respectively.
While Drummond was nearly a lock to begin with thanks to his double-double average, Simmons may have had a minor case over both Walker and Dragic, statistically speaking.
| Player | PTS/G | AST/G | REB/G | STL/G | BLK/G | FG% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Simmons | 16.6 | 7.2 | 7.8 | 1.8 | 0.9 | 52.9 |
| Walker | 23.0 | 5.8 | 3.4 | 1.2 | 0.3 | 42.6 |
| Dragic | 17.4 | 4.8 | 4.1 | 0.9 | 0.2 | 44.3 |
In any case, the rookie Simmons will have plenty more opportunities in coming seasons to make his All-Star bid.