The Biggest Snubs From The 2017 NBA All-Star Game, Ranked


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Not everyone can make the All-Star team, and all the chatter about expanding the rosters to 15 misses the point about All-Star selections entirely. All-Star spots are reserved for only the creme de la creme. Given the exclusive nature of the honor, there are always going to be omissions that people like to characterize as “snubs,” regardless of whether that term is even apt in most cases.

Once you start digging into the evidence and considering all the mitigating factors, there are only a very small handful who you can argue qualify as snubs, and even some of those dubiously so.

Regardless, today we pay tribute to the biggest snubs from the 2017 NBA All-Star Game. As always, gripes – respectful or otherwise – can be made in the comments.

8. Zaza Pachulia

Just Kidding! For the second season in a row, Zaza Pachulia came this close to landing a starting spot on the 2017 NBA All-Star team as he racked up an inordinate number of votes from his home country in the Republic of Georgia. Alas, that early momentum wasn’t quite enough to secure his place on the Western Conference roster, as the league offices heaved a collective sigh of relief that their revamped voting system didn’t result in what would’ve been the most inexplicable All-Star selection in NBA history.

7. Bradley Beal

The Wizards’ swing-man is having arguably the best season of his career as his team is suddenly gunning for the No. 3 seed in the Eastern Conference playoff picture. Their 17-game home-win streak finally came to an end in a barn-burner loss to the Cavs last week, but they’ve won nine of their last 10 and put together a convincing case that they belong among the conference elite.

Beal and his stellar play have been a big reason for that, but with such a formidable field of backcourt players in the East, including All-Star teammate John Wall, it’s difficult to justify his place on the roster. The only player he could legitimately usurp might be Kemba Walker, who is putting up similar numbers but helms a decidedly less successful team.

6. C.J. McCollum

The Blazers’ struggles this season are obviously what precluded the reigning Most Improved Player from All-Star consideration, along with the glut of superstar guards in the West. But his per-game numbers are nearly identical to Klay Thompson in terms of points, assists, steals, field goal percentage, and three-point efficiency.

Consider the fact that teammate Damian Lillard was arguably more deserving of a roster spot in the West, and there simply isn’t a place for McCollum at this year’s festivities. But if the Blazers’ silky guard keeps developing the way he has the past few seasons, it’s certainly possible for him to get the nod sometime in the future.

5. Joel Embiid

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Joel Embiid’s raw numbers – when you factor in that he’s doing it in much fewer minutes per game – are better than Kevin Love, Paul Millsap, and Paul George, i.e. the three players who were named to the Eastern Conference All-Star reserves instead of him. But as with many other “snubs,” Embiid was hampered by the fact that he plays for the Philadelphia 76ers, who are much improved this year (relatively speaking) but still not very good.

Nonetheless, Embiid is one of the most entertaining personalities in the NBA, and everyone wanted to see him at All-Star Weekend in New Orleans. Thankfully, we’ll at least get to see him participate in the Skills Challenge on Saturday night.

4. Damian Lillard

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Damian Lillard has become the Susan Lucci of the NBA, perpetually nominated and perpetually overlooked. Averaging more than 25 points and five assists per game this season, Dame became the first player in decades to log such numbers and not make the All-Star team. Unfortunately, that’s the best argument you can make for him, given that the Blazers have been one of the biggest flops of the NBA season.

If you look at it purely from a statistical perspective, you could maybe make an argument to give him the nod over Klay Thompson, and there would at least some precedent for it as DeMarcus Cousins was named as a Western Conference reserve thanks to his outlandish numbers while setting aside the fact that he’s also on a bad team.

3. Rudy Gobert

There’s a case to be made for Rudy Gobert over DeAndre Jordan as a Western Conference All-Star reserve. Their raw numbers are nearly identical in terms of points and rebounds, but Gobert is clearly the better rim protector as he averages nearly a full block more per game. He’s also a slightly more reliable free-throw shooter and has better plus/minus numbers, not to mention the fact that the Jazz have a narrow edge in the standings.

Jordan largely got the nod because he’d been “snubbed” so many times before. In fact, he was so sure wouldn’t make the team again this season he’d already planned a Hawaiian vacation this weekend. But if Gobert’s career trajectory continues in this direction, he’ll likely be a multi-time All-Star when all is said and done.

2. Mike Conley

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At this rate, it looks like Mike Conley might never make an All-Star team, and that would be a damn shame. He’s one of the sturdiest point guards in the league, one of the best defenders at his position, and he’s become a reliable three-point threat for a team that’s suddenly joined the 21st century style of basketball. Unfortunately, Conley plays in the Western Conference among an absolutely loaded field of backcourt players.

The only player he could legitimately beat out would be Klay Thompson, and there’s easily a case to be made for that, starting with the question of whether the Warriors really deserve four roster spots. Conley has similarly formidable defensive assignments every night, he’s just as efficient from behind the arc, and logs three times as many assists to make up for the fact that he averages just a couple of points less per game.

1. Chris Paul

Chris Paul is easily the biggest All-Star snub this season, and it was due largely to laziness. Paul is injured and unable to participate in the annual exhibition in New Orleans, so voters obviously opted to just omit him entirely rather than vote him in and then have to decide on an injury replacement.

Convenience doesn’t change the fact that Paul deserved to be ceremoniously named to the team.

Before his injury, he had the highest PER of any other player at his position in the league and is still emphatically one of the NBA best pure point guards. Perhaps when he returns he’ll take this slight as added motivation to prep his Clippers for what they all hope will be an extended postseason run.

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