News – AU – He’s IN: Simmons gets third all-star pick when HUGE snubs stun

Despite a slow start to the season and the commercial drama, Australian Ben Simmons will be released on Aug. March in his third All-Star Game (AEDT)

The Eastern Conference reserves officially announced on Wednesday include Simmons, James Harden, Julius Randle, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, Zach LaVine and Nikola Vucevic

Meanwhile, in the east, Chris Paul, Paul George, Damian Lillard, Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Zion Williamson and Anthony Davis made the cut

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Simmons averaged 157 points, 83 rebounds, and 79 assists in the season, but has averaged 278 points in his last four games and was rewarded for his elite two-way play

Elsewhere in the east, the inclusion of Harden means the Nets will have three players in the All-Star game after both Kevin Durant and Kyrie were named as starters

Boston’s Brown is an All-Star for the first time, switching to teammate Tatum, who will be performing for the second time.In the meantime, Randle (New York Knicks) and LaVine (Chicago Bulls) have also received their first All-Star calls on The Orlando Magic’s Vucevic will make his second all-star appearance

In the west, despite New Orleans’ disappointing record, Zion Williamson has crept in. He will make his first all-star appearance

Mitchell and Gobert represent NBA-leading Utah Jazz, Portland’s Lillard will appear after missing a starting role, while George makes it from the Clippers and Davis from the Lakers

Phoenix ‘Paul was a surprising take over from his higher-rated teammate Devin Booker, who averages 24 points in the season and made the game of last year

Other notable snubs include Trae Young from Atlanta, who started the All-Star competition last year, Khris Middleton from Milwaukee, Domantas Sabonis from Indiana, DeMar DeRozan from San Antonio, and Tobias Harris from Philadelphia

2021 NBA All-Star Game, LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers, Damian Lillard, Western Conference