Every year, the NBA’s best and brightest stars gather for All-Star weekend. While the top players around the league get to showcase their talents and reap the rewards from their play, there always seems to be at least a few guys who feel like they got the short end of the stick. That is, they were snubbed. Whether it is due to the fan vote, or the general lack of recognition by NBA coaches, one way or another some players just don’t seem to make the cut. This year’s edition is no different, as the following players were snubbed from the 2015 NBA All-Star game.
Eastern Conference
Kyle Korver, Atlanta Hawks
It seems a little ridiculous to say that Korver was snubbed here, given that the Atlanta Hawks already have three all-stars in Jeff Teague, Al Horford, and Paul Millsap, but Korver really has been that good. He is ridiculously efficient from everywhere on the floor, and could be the first ever member of the 50-50-90 club. Korver could still make the team if Dwyane Wade is forced to sit out, but for now he is on the outside looking in. The Hawks have been tremendous this year, and their team-oriented style of play has put the possibility of four all-stars in play. For the month of January, the entire Hawks starting five were named the co-players of the month. Korver will still be lighting it up in the three-point contest, but for now he stays off the eastern conference all-star team.
Brandon Knight, Milwaukee Bucks
One of the surprises of the season has been the Milwaukee Bucks. Under head coach Jason Kidd, the young Bucks have played great defense and have put themselves in the thick of the playoff conversation. Their leader has been Brandon Knight, who leads the team in scoring, assists, and steals. He has helped them overcome the loss of Jabari Parker to a knee injury, and has been a clutch performer as well. Knight hasn’t garnered too much all-star consideration, but for a team with an above .500 record not to have an all-star doesn’t seem to make much sense. Knight is another candidate to make the team if Wade can’t play, but for now it seems like he’s going to miss out as well.
Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic
Given the struggles of the Orlando Magic this year, what with them losing ten straight games and having head coach Jacques Vaughn being fired, there is no way they were getting an all-star in this game. However, that shouldn’t take away from how good Vucevic has played this year. Vucevic is the team leader points and rebounds, averaging 19.6 and 11.3 per game. These numbers, on a winning team, would be deserving of an all-star spot. However, given his situation, this exclusion from the team feels like less of a snub than the other two on this list.
Western Conference
Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers
Leaving Damian Lillard off of the all-star team is far and away the most egregious omission on this list. Lillard has played superbly this season, and was squeezed out due to the abundance of high-caliber point guards in the west. The Trail Blazers have relied on his clutch shooting time and time again, and he has improved his game both offensively and defensively from last year, where he was named an all-star. Averaging over 21 ppg and 6 apg, he trails only LaMarcus Aldridge in the scoring category on the team. Aldridge was named an all-star, but Lillard was left off. He has called his absence “disrespectful,” and for a player of his quality to be left off, it is hard to disagree. This is a “snub” in the truest sense of the word.
Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies
Another victim of the point guard depth in the western conference, Mike Conley has played at an all-star level this season. Conley is second on the Grizzlies in scoring, leads the team in assists, and always seems to hit big shots down the stretch. He is the engine of the third best team in the NBA, which somehow only has one all-star in Marc Gasol. Go figure. Being snubbed from the all-star game has become a regular occurrence, it seems, for Mike Conley, but it has not affected his level of play. Dubbed as “perennially underrated,” if Conley keeps up this play, people will certainly begin to take notice.
Dwight Howard, Houston Rockets
Dwight’s all-star candidacy was hurt by injuries this year, so this feels like less of a snub than the others. However, Howard has played like the Dwight of old when he has been healthy. He is second on the team in scoring behind MVP Candidate James Harden, and leads the team in rebounding. Last season in Los Angeles, Howard tried playing through a bad back and never seemed like himself. If he can get himself right after the break, the rest of the league might be dealing with a true all-star Dwight Howard as the playoffs approach.