By Manny Simmons
Sixers center Joel Embiid made the NBA’s starting line-up for the All-Star game Feb. 16 in Chicago, even though he will probably not play because he is still rehabbing after surgery for his torn finger ligament.
And point guard Ben Simmons may still make it when the reserves are announced next week.
LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo are NBA All-Star captains for the second year in a row.
James and Antetokounmpo were announced as captains for the 69th NBA All-Star Game in Chicago after leading their respective conferences in fan voting. The pair will pick teams from among the rest of the All-Star participants.
The other eight starters:
After James, the rest of the starters from the Western Conference are his Los Angeles Lakers teammate Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard, Houston Rockets guard James Harden and Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic.
Joining Antetokounmpo as starters from the Eastern Conference are Boston Celtics guard Kemba Walker, Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young, Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam and Embiid.
Simmons’ long-range shooting has been a topic of much hand-wringing this season, but everything else Simmons does on the floor gives him a case to be a starter. Simmons is averaging 16.0 points, 8.5 assists and 7.8 rebounds on career-high 57.8% shooting, while playing All-NBA caliber defense. He finished in a tie for sixth among East backcourt player
