“Are we just going to change the rules now because Joel Embiid’s feelings got hurt?” - Bill Simmons says he hates the idea of the NBA changing the All-NBA selection process
Joel Embiid is one of the best centers in the NBA right now. He has turned the Philadelphia 76ers into a legitimate title contender. Despite leading the league in scoring last season with an average of 30.6 points, he failed to make the All-NBA First Team. Many pundits have called for the selection criteria to change, but analyst Bill Simmons is having none of it.
Analysts and fans predicted the 76ers center to win the league MVP last season, but that did not happen. Nikola Jokic won the award for a second straight year, while Embiid finished second yet again.
Embiid failed to make the All-NBA First Team as well, as Jokic was selected for the center spot. Many believe he missed out due to a flaw in the selection system, but Simmons feels the system should not be tweaked just because Embiid's "feelings got hurt." Here's what he said on SiriusXM NBA Radio:
"Are we just going to change the rules now because Joel Embiid’s feelings got hurt? That he didn't win the MVP and is on the second-team All-NBA?"
Joel Embiid is not the only player who didn't make All-NBA First Team
Bill Simmons pointed out how the All-NBA selection process was the same, even during the golden age of NBA centers.
"Go back and look at the '60s where it's Bill Russell vs. Wilt Chamberlain," Simmons said. "Or go and look at the early 2000s where it's KG vs. C-Webb vs. Duncan vs. Dirk."
In the early years of the NBA, Bill Russell and Wilt Chamberlain dominated the league. Despite being two of the best players, only one of them could make the All-NBA First Team each year.
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Two decades ago, the NBA had a lot of talented power forwards such as Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Garnett and Chris Webber. However, only two of them could have been selected to the first team.
The league began picking All-NBA teams in 1946 and back then, there were only two different teams with five players each, regardless of their positions.
During the 1955-56 season, the league changed the selection process to include positions: one center, two forwards and two guards. The latest change to the system came in 1988-89 as the NBA added a third team.
Joel Embiid is a fantastic player who will most likely make the All-NBA First Team one day. Many centers before him had to deal with rejection, and he will also have to do the same.
Embiid has made four All-NBA Second Teams so far, but he's never been able to be on the First Team. In the 2019-20 season, this honor went to Anthony Davis. Nikola Jokic was selected to the first team in 2018-19, 2020-21 and 2021-22.
Embiid failed to make any of the All-NBA teams in 2019-20 as Rudy Gobert, who received 31 votes more than him, was selected to the third team.