NBA All Star Game Essay

The National Basketball Association’s All-Star Game is supposed to bring together the best and brightest of the NBA’s current and rising talent for fans’ enjoyment. It would not be complete without Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and his teammate Ben Simmons. In the words of Dan Favale of The Bleacher Report, Embiid is impressive because he, “checks all the boxes” one might expect of a star center. “He swallows shots at the rim. He has nifty post moves. He is deadly when operating off the bounce—a pseudo wing with the ball in his hands. He has three-point range. He’s a sneaky-good switcher” (Favale). GQ magazine called Embiid, “the future of basketball,” noting, “He showed why he’s the most mythical of all the unicorns in the NBA’s stable…bulky enough to dominate in the post, smooth enough to shoot the elbow jumper (or the deep three), and somehow coordinated enough to have developed a lethal Dirk Nowitzki impression” despite being nearly seven feet tall (Skipper).

While some have protested that “Embiid commits a crap ton of turnovers” that still does not discount the fact that in the NBA he has the fourth-best record in terms of assisting, 5.5 per every 100 possessions and consistently makes a positive difference as a deterrence for his team in every game he has played (Favale). Even his personality is both engaging and resilient. Born in Cameroon, Embiid did not even speak English seven years ago (Skipper). Now Embiid has a huge Twitter following, thanks to his humorous online courting of the singer Rhianna, cumulating in a fake “date” Embiid live-tweeted, in which he listened to Rhianna’s songs and downed his favorite drink, the nonalcoholic Shirley Temple (Skipper). He has also had the good grace and the positive mindset to rebound from a number of injuries which could have deterred a less optimistic athlete. Embiid could not play his first two seasons after going pro due to injuries but has made up for lost time in the games he has played in subsequently (Skipper). A player with as much personality as well as talent has a clear place in the All-Star Game.

Similarly, Ben Simmons has distinguished himself as a multifaceted player. Mike Prada of SB Nation called him, “NBA’s ultimate mad scientist,” and an idiosyncratic genius of a player. While many All-Star games have been decried as being dull and difficult to watch, as well as not truly counting for anything, other than to boost ratings, seeing Simmons in action and putting his oddly effective style of play into action is surely a credit to the game’s depth and versatility. Prada enthused, “it’s already clear that Simmons is a freakin’ genius that bends NBA games to his will. He uses his speed, vision, and power to see openings before they even exist, whether they are to score or deliver a pass,” as one of the league’s most confident players.

In different ways, teammates Embiid and Simmons have shown themselves to be qualified to stand among the NBA’s best and brightest. They have drawn attention both from fans and sportswriters alike. They are likely to put on a compelling show and to highlight the many unique athletic skills that make basketball great over the course of the evening. Their compelling stories, including Embiid’s immigrant background and his rebounding from injury, as well as Simmons’ impressive rookie year, will also draw fan attention and add to the drama of the game. Both of them are already rising stars and have a rightful place in the constellation of NBA talent.