No Kendall? Big question Today missed during interview with Australian NBA star Ben Simmons

An interview with Australian NBA star Ben Simmons should have been a huge coup for the relaunched Today — but the show failed to ask him the one question every fan wanted the answer to.

An interview with Australian NBA star Ben Simmons should have been a huge coup for the relaunched Today — but the show failed to ask him the one question every fan wanted the answer to.

Today newsreader Tom Steinfort had an exclusive interview — via satellite from Philadelphia — with the Melbourne-born NBA Rookie of the Year.

But Steinfort didn’t ask Simmons about his rumoured girlfriend, Kendall Jenner.

Simmons, 22, and Jenner, 23, have never confirmed their relationship but have been linked to each other, on and off, since May.

It’s highly possible Today was told not to quiz the Philadelphia 76ers point guard about his personal life.

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Australian NBA star Ben Simmons has been linked to Kendall Jenner since May … but has never confirmed the relationship. Picture: AFP

She supportive! Kendall Jenner sat courtside to watch her rumoured boyfriend play in Philadelphia on December 22. Picture: AFP

But not asking about Jenner was a glaring omission and a missed opportunity for a genuine scoop.

Steinfort’s interview touched on Simmons’ season with the Philadelphia 76ers, his campaign to make an NBA All-Star team, and the rising popularity of Four N Twenty pies at his team’s Wells Fargo Centre base.

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Today’s newsreader Tom Steinfort interviewed Australian NBA star Ben Simmons on the Today Show. Picture: Nine

Being linked to the world’s top-paid supermodel has catapulted Simmons, whose next NBA contract could be worth $US100 million, to celebrity status.

He has been seen out with Jenner, 23, and members of her famous family, with Jenner sitting courtside with Simmons’ family at his 76ers games.

The Keeping Up With the Kardashians star has sat courtside with members of the Simmons family. Picture: AFP

The closest Steinfort came to probing Simmons about his personal life was a vague question about celebrity.

“There’s so much focus on you, not only what you’re doing on the court but your life away from it as well, I mean you’re pretty much a celebrity now,” Steinfort said, during the slightly awkward interview. “How does that sit in your head?”

Simmons responded: “I feel like I carry myself the same way”.

“I got my family who really keep me grounded, I’m the youngest of six so, I get reminded of that a fair bit,” Simmons added.

Ben Simmons in action during the 76ers win against the New York Kicks at Madison Square Garden yesterday. Picture: AP

The Victoria’s Secret model has never commented on the relationship. Picture: AFP

Over the past few months, Jenner and Simmons — who have not publicly confirmed their relationship — have been seen everywhere from DUMBO House in Brooklyn to upscale bars Poppy and Peppermint Club in Los Angeles, even shopping for groceries together at Erewhon, an expensive health supermarket.

At the time, a source said they were acting “coy” and “exchanging glances, [but were] by no means all over each other”, according to Page Six.

Last year, a source told E! that Jenner and Simmons were “hanging out” and “keeping things casual”.

The revamped Today Show debuted yesterday with Deborah Knight and Georgie Gardner co-hosting, as the show desperately battles to win back viewers after sacking Karl Stefanovic.

But they’ve savaged the new line-up on its first day, branding the new-look Today “boring”, “flat”, “overbearing” and “stiff” in a lacklustre start.

One viewer said the new-look panel “doesn’t work” with a string of others threatening to turn off the embattled show for Seven rival, Sunrise.