Ben Simmons selected to Eastern Conference All-Star team

PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - The NBA announced on Thursday that Philadelphia 76ers forward Ben Simmons has been selected to the Eastern Conference All-Star team as a reserve.

Simmons will join fellow Sixer, Joel Embiid, on the Eastern Conference roster. The pair are the first Sixers teammates selected to an All-Star game since Allen Iverson and Dikembe Mutombo were selected together in 2002.

This is Simmons' first All-Star team honor. Simmons will represent one of 14 bench reserves who were voted on by all 30 NBA head coaches.

Simmons earned the All-Star nod by averaging 16.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game. The 22-year-old ranks third in the NBA in assists per game and 13th in field goal percentage.

Simmons leads the Eastern Conference in triple-doubles with eight, and is tied for second most triple-doubles in the NBA behind only Oaklahoma City's Russell Westbrook.

The 2019 NBA All-Star Game will tip off at 8:00 pm on February 17th in Charlotte, North Carolina.