Updated February 01, 2019 13:18:29

Photo: Ben Simmons (25) will play in the NBA All-Star Game in just his second season. (Reuters/USA Today Sports: Bill Streicher)

Finally, it's happened — star point guard Ben Simmons has become the first Australian basketballer to be named in the NBA's All-Star Game.

When the lists were revealed on Friday (AEDT) Simmons was listed as one of the seven reserves from the Eastern Conference for the match against the Western Conference, which will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina, on February 18 (at midday AEDT).

The Australian missed an entire season due to an injured foot after being drafted in 2016.

Last year, Simmons made waves in his rookie year for the 76ers, and was named NBA Rookie of the Year.

But despite a prolonged campaign by fans, some commentators — and even in Australia's federal Parliament — Simmons failed to crack the All-Star line-up.

In April 2018, the young Australian racked up 17 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists for Philadelphia in game four of their playoff series against the Miami Heat, posting the first playoff triple-double by an NBA rookie in nearly 40 years.

He has continued his progress in his second season in the league — the 22-year-old from Melbourne has averaged 16.7 points, 9.5 rebounds and 8.2 assists per game for the Philadelphia 76ers this season.

Simmons has some high-profile supporters — Los Angeles Lakers superstar LeBron James tweeted his congratulations to the 76ers young gun.

Simmons was the number one pick in the 2016 NBA Draft, meaning the Melbourne native came into the league with great expectations.

However a string of Australian players, dating back to Luc Longley who was drafted by the Minnesota Timberwolves in 1991, had failed to make the grade for the All-Star extravaganza.

Longley went on to win three titles at the Chicago Bulls, the two Andrews — Gaze and Bogut — won Championship rings at the San Antonio Spurs and the Golden State Warriors respectively.

Patty Mills and Aron Baynes were on the 2014 San Antonio title-winning team, and Matthew Dellavedova was part of the 2016 champion Cleveland Cavaliers side.

But no one — before Simmons — has managed to crack the voting for the showpiece game.

NBA fans vote to select the starting five for both conferences, while NBA coaches pick the seven reserves.

Topics: sport, basketball, united-states, melbourne-3000, vic, australia

First posted February 01, 2019 12:55:54