Rocking black and white uniform threads emblazoned with the 76ers logo, Simmons logged 17 minutes and delivered 10 points, 6 rebounds, 7 assists, 1 steal and a perfect 5-5 field goal shooting in his first-ever NBA All Star appearance.
His All Star teammate Kevin Durant came away with the the MVP Award, but for Simmons this is a monumental achievement.
“I had a great time. It was what I expected so I think it was just fun to be out there,” Simmons told reporters post-game. “It was something new and something I hadn’t done before.
“For me, I always try go out there and just play the right way. That’s what I tried to show tonight.”
Let’s stop for a minute to recognise how remarkable this is for Simmons and his beloved Australia.
Only a select number of Australians were fortunate enough to win championships or had been part of contending teams, including the likes of Luc Longley, Andrew Bogut, Patty Mills, Andrew Gaze and Shane Heal. Yet, not a single Australian baller has ever been selected to play in the annual gathering of the NBA’s cream of the crop. Until now.
How did he become an NBA All Star? Simmons is a homegrown star from Melbourne, Victoria. He is fast tracking his way to the top of the NBA echelon.
Winning big makes everyone pay attention. He is leading the 76ers to 37-21 win-loss record, good enough for 5th overall in the East. Philly are looking to make its second consecutive playoff appearance behind its fearsome foursome of Simmons, Joel Embiid (an NBA All Star), Jimmy Butler (former All Star) and new acquisition Tobias Harris.
His fantasy stats are eye-popping. Simmons’ regular season stat-line: 16.8 points, 9 rebounds and 7.9 assists, 1.3 steals and 0.7 blocks in 57 games. These are the kind of numbers you would expect from a former No.1 draft pick and it’s working out just fine. The Process is complete.
Game recognise game. Simmons is unselfish, humble and has a solid work ethic. His stats don’t always show the rest of his influence on the court. His length is his advantage, but his high IQ separates him from the rest of the pack.
“Just to be at a certain level you have to put in the work,” he added. “Everybody here deserves it and everybody here works hard so that’s what I take away from it. It was an amazing experience.”
The All Star recognition is well deserved. Simmons can most definitely improve facets of his game but one thing is for sure – he is more than ready for the spotlight.
In his sophomore season in the NBA, Simmons has set a new Australian benchmark. He’s paving the way for his fellow Australian players (Exum, Bolden, Delladova, Ingles, Mills, Baynes, Maker, Creek, Broekhoff et al) to aim higher because anything is possible.