All-Star selection always brings about plenty of debate when it comes to who was the biggest snub from either conference.
James Harden would have to be one of the biggest snubs from the Eastern Conference.
Harden’s numbers are off the charts this season, averaging 11 Asts a game to go along with almost 21.5 PPG a night.
He’s also playing on one of the hottest teams in the league, and when it comes to rewarding playing winning basketball, we don’t tend to do it enough at All-Star level.
Harden missed selection over the likes of Jrue Holiday (love Jrue) but his numbers aren’t even close to those of Harden’s, and doesn’t give off the “I want to play in a entertaining All-Star game” vibe.
Jrue would almost certainly take the All-Star game credibility, and not take part in the game to focus on winning another title for the Bucks!
Trae Young gets an honourable mention here to also fill this role, and has averaged 27 PPG and almost 10 Asts a night, once again over looked for the big show.
Young is built for All-Star games, a proper entertainer, so it’s a hard one for him to miss the cut putting up numbers like he is.
He also has his team moving in the right direction after a slow start to the season.
With all due respect to DeMar DeRozan, he doesn’t belong in this year’s field.
If we are rewarding teams who aren’t winning basketball games this season, how’s it possible Pascal Siakam was over looked??
Siakam is the first player in NBA history to average 25 PPG, 8 Rbs a game and 6 Asts a night and not receive a spot in the All-Star event.
The Raptors are 2 losses behind the Bulls, but neither team has set the world alight this season, so it’s impossible Siakam was overlooked for DeRozan.
Tyrese Haliburton was having a monster before getting hurt, so it’s good to see him rewarded with a spot on the reserves list.
Prior to going down, Haliburton had the Pacers far exceeding expectations, and now he’s back, he will look to put them back in the hunt for a Play-In berth this season.
He gets the nod ahead of Jalen Brunson in this case, given we can’t have 2 Knicks players in the All-Star game with Julius Randle taking that spot!
The West Reserves seemingly had far less controversy, with Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Lauri Markannen rewarded with their exceptional play this season.
One name that sticks out that isn’t on the list is DeAaron Fox.
Fox has been incredible this season, along with Sabonis who was selected on the bench (should have been a starter).
If there was ever a year to have 2 Sacramento Kings in the All-Star line-up, this was the year.
The Kings are flying, sitting 3rd in the West (no one saw that coming) and Fox has upped all his numbers on last season (24.3 PPG, 6.1 APG, 4.3 RPG).
Fox deserves his spot in this line up over the likes of Paul George, who has missed a lot of basketball this season already.
Another name that could feel hard done by would be Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Edwards has been instrumental in a Wolves revival this season, and has carried the team without Karl-Anthony Towns for the majority of the season.
“Ant-Man” is averaging close to 25 PPG (up from 21.3 last season) as well as over 6 Rbs a night and over 4.5 Asts a night, all up on his previous 2 years in the league.
As good as Lillard and PG are and have been, both these 2 young guards deserve their spot in this year’s event.
REWARD WINNING BASKETBALL!
Bauky