Tobias Harris Sounds off on Never Being Named an All-Star
Tobias Harris has put up good numbers and made a lot of money in his NBA career, but one thing has escaped. Despite having the production and pay as one, the Philadelphia 76ers forward has never been named an All-Star.
It might sound like a backhanded compliment, but Harris is one of the best players in the league to never be named an All-Star. He's come close on multiple occasions but has never been able to get over the hump.
During a recent interview with HoopsHype, Harris opened up on this accolade escaping him. It's something he's always strived for, but his thoughts have changed after being snubbed over the years.
"I think I’ve made the case a few years to be there (an All-Star). It’s something that, as a player, you strive to get. I think after the first one, where I thought I should’ve made it, I kind of said, 'F it.'", Harris said. "There are 12 guys that make it, and it’s a tough thing to get into. A lot of it has to do with team success as well. I just let that be my fuel of being on a team that’s No. 1 or 2 in the East or when I was in the West."
Looking back through the years, two instances stand out where Harris could have been named an All-Star. The first was in 2019, before being traded to the Sixers. In 55 games as the "top guy" on the LA Clippers, he averaged 20.9 PPG, 7.9 RPG, and 2.7 APG while shooting close to 50% from the field.
The second time came during the 2020-21 season as a member of the Sixers. Prior to the All-Star break, Harris was averaging 20.2 PPG, 7.6 RPG, and 3.4 APG on 51/40/88 shooting splits. Despite looking like the second-best player on the Sixers at the time, Ben Simmons ended up getting the nod as the team's second All-Star.
Harris has seemed to have moved on from this chase and is more focused on helping his team compete for a championship.
