Ben Simmons wasn’t able to beat out guards Kyrie Irving and DeMar DeRozan to become the first rookie to start in an All-Star game since 2003, but it seems like he won’t have to worry about that ever again.
Philadelphia coach Brett Brown acknowledged today that Simmons will be moving to the power forward position once they regain the services of injured point guard Markelle Fultz.
Brett Brown says Simmons will move to 4 at times, when Fultz returns.
— Jon Johnson (@jonjohnsonwip) January 24, 2018
According to head coach Brett Brown, fellow rookie Ben Simmons will slide back to the power forward position as soon as Fultz makes his imminent return, according to Jon Johnson of KYW1060 Philadelphia.
Despite not generating enough fan votes to start the All-Star game, most believed the 21-year-old Australian would be selected as a reserve by the leagues coaches. Simmons was however overlooked by in favour of true guards like John Wall, Bradley Beal (Washington) and Victor Oladipo (Indiana).
Simmons may be the favourite to win the NBA’s Rookie of the Year award, he is averaging 16.3 points, 7.9 rebounds, and 7.2 points per game, but his skills at guard weren’t enough to impress those selecting All-Star reserves. His omission due to his high turnover rate, inability to make shots from outside the key and poor free-throw shooting.
Simmons, responded to the snub today by recording his fifth triple-double, in ONLY 21 minutes and 52 seconds.
Ben Simmons’ (8 PTS, 11 REB, 5 AST) buckets and dimes from his monstrous first quarter!#HereTheyCome pic.twitter.com/nk8EuhaPc6
— NBA (@NBA) January 25, 2018
At halftime, Simmons entered with 11 points, 13 rebounds, and eight assists. He needed just 49 seconds once the second half started to notch those two additional dimes, and he finished with 19 points, 17 rebounds, and 14 assists.
The feat was only a few minutes away from being the fastest triple double ever recorded. The record for fastest triple-double was set by Jim Tucker of the Syracuse Nationals in 1953, who only needed 17 minutes.
Simmons now has the most triple-doubles for a rookie since Magic Johnson in 1979-80, he is only two triple-doubles behind Magic Johnson’s rookie record and his 19-17-14 stat line from today has only ever been replicated by one man, Larry Bird, who has done it twice.
The Philadelphia 76ers who currently sit at 23-21, have relied heavily on Simmons to play the point and the return of Fultz will be a welcomed addition. Fultz however is facing his own obstacles with his jump shot being heavily scrutinised by media and fans as he attempts to return to the court.
As yet, Fault has not been cleared cleared for full range shooting but footage has surfaced on social media where the young rookie is still working on his shot, but by the looks of it, it hasn’t progressed that well.
Fultz from the line pic.twitter.com/Yl1D66ZyfR
— Jon Johnson (@jonjohnsonwip) January 24, 2018
It was also announced today that although he won’t be an All-Star this year, he will be at All-Star weeekend, teaming with but Ben Simmons76ers teammate Joel Embiid in the NBA’s annual Rising Stars game.
The game features the best first and second year international players in the NBA who represent either the USA or the World as per their country of birth.
The two tyros from Philadelphia will headline the the World Team who will face a team of US born players, the likes of Lonzo Ball, Brandon Ingram and Jayson Tatum.
The game will take place during the 2018 NBA All Star Weekend, tipping off at Staples Center on Saturday, February 17 (AEDT).