Embiid lobbies for Simmons All-Star invite

Philadelphia 76ers centre Joel Embiid has urged the NBA to name his Australian teammate Ben Simmons an All-Star.

Simmons has been snubbed for an All-Star invite six times in recent weeks as players pulled out with injuries and NBA coaches and the league's commissioner, Adam Silver, instead went with veteran players as replacements.

The Melbourne-born rookie's latest opportunity to make the February 18 game in Los Angeles arose when All-Star New York Knicks big man Kristaps Porzingis suffered a season-ending anterior cruciate ligament tear.

"I hope they don't do the same bulls**t, the same mistake they've been doing before with the last two guys who got injured," Embiid told reporters after…