Ben Simmons became the first Australian to claim All-Defensive First Team honours, but his future at the Philadelphia 76ers is uncertain as trade rumours persist.
Simmons fitness and future remains up in the air, but he has finished this season on a high after being awarded NBA All-Defensive First Team honours.
A knee injury ended his season as his 76ers bombed out in the first round of the playoffs, prompted coach Brett Brown's sacking.
The Melbourne-born power forward was a standout for the Sixers this season - averaging 16.4 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 8 assists.
Simmons led the league in steals per game and improved his defensive game ultimately earning his first All-NBA defensive honour.
Joined alongside by Defensive Player of the Year Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis, Rudy Gobert, and Marcus Smart.
Simmons received 88 First Team votes, and 185 overall points, placing him just two points behind Los Angeles Lakers megastar Davis.
The 2019-20 NBA All-Defensive First Team!@Giannis_An34 @AntDavis23 @BenSimmons25 @rudygobert27 @smart_MS3 pic.twitter.com/n6DqYujeiq
— NBA (@NBA) September 8, 2020
He becomes the second Australian to make an All-NBA Defensive Team.
Andrew Bogut was named in the Second Team All-Defense in 2015 with the Golden State Warriors.
Rumours swirling that the 24-year-old star could be traded from Philadelphia continue to persist.
The Sixers were open to trading Simmons or fellow All-Star Joel Embiid if the franchise failed in the post season according to reports in the US.
Simmons is in the first year of a five-year, $170 million deal at Philadelphia.
It will be an interesting transfer period if the 76ers act on their word.
It seems like an appropriate time to share this video again now that Ben Simmons has been named to the All-Defensive First Team.
Here are some of his best steals of the season (he led the NBA with 2.1 per game) pic.twitter.com/dAJj8m6kVF
— Tom West (@TomWestNBA) September 8, 2020
