BIGGEST SNUBS FOR THE ALL-STAR WEEKEND

The rosters for the NBA All-Star game have been announced a few days ago. The Western Conference will be represented by LeBron James, Luka Doncic, James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Anthony Davis as the starting five. On the other hand, the Eastern Conference will field a starting five consisted by Trae Young, Kemba Walker, Pascal Siakam, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid. These players were selected due to fan votes throughout several weeks, media votes and players/coaches votes as well.

Later on, the reserves for each team were also announced. That’s where the trouble begins. Every year, there are players who are having a great season and don’t get selected. Damian Lillard was a notable case of this occurrence back in the day, as he continuously posted great numbers but couldn’t make the team due to the incredible competitiveness of the Western Conference. Usually when this happens, players tend to vent about it, something that has already happened this year, clearly demonstrating their dissatisfaction about the choices of all that are involved with the responsibility of selecting the players. The biggest snubs this year have been Devin Booker and Bradley Beal. It was the 1st time in NBA history that a player averaging more than 27 points per game will not participate on the famous All-Star weekend. As it happens, both players average more than that figure, as Booker is on a 27.1 PPG average, while Beal is on 28.6 for the season.



DEVIN BOOKER

While the Western Conference is always loaded with great talent, and it’s usually pretty hard to get an All-Star selection, we can safely say that Devin Booker has been snubbed this year. The 23-year-old is performing at an incredible level, having his best season till date on the league, leading the Phoenix Suns to an already better record than they had last season. What was the reason for Booker being left out then? No one knows actually. He has a very strong argument to get in over players like Russell Westbrook and Chris Paul. The only disadvantage is his team’s record. That’s when it starts to get tricky. There’s no clear indication to separate or include the team’s success when it comes to an All-Star selection. Should it be solely based on the player’s performance throughout the season, or does making his team better also influences? We all know that the voters always take that into account, but sometimes the discrepancy is to much for the system to be believed. Besides the prestige that comes for anyone to participate in the All-Star game, we should think that the players have some bonus attached to their contract if they get selected. That’s one of the reasons why players that don’t get selected get so vocal about the issue. Devin Booker’s been one of the most consistent guys of the Western Conference, and has every right to be mad about not getting into the team.

Use it as fuel, @DevinBook. We all know you should be in that game and will be. Keep doing your thing. https://t.co/1boAbFSU0V — John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) January 31, 2020

BRADLEY BEAL

The other player who has been snubbed this year is Bradley Beal. The Washington Wizards guard was injured for a few games, but besides that, he was completely worthy of an All-Star selection. Although he’s in one of the worst teams of the Eastern Conference, his averages are better than almost every single player selected for the East. We get back to the question mentioned above. How can we separate a player that’s been performing amazingly on a bad team, to a player whose averages are good but not great on a better team? Depleted by injuries, the Wizards remain competitive and are not distant from a playoff position, as much of the credit needs to go to Bradley Beal. The 26-year-old has already spoken about not being selected as well, showing his discontent with the situation.



"I'm a little pissed off about it, but I know how I am, I was kind of expecting it, honestly," Beal said. "It's disrespectful, but the real ones know so I'm just gonna keep competing and try to get my team to the playoffs for sure."



The players also have a say about who’s making it or not for the All-Star game, and curiously, Bradley Beal was the 2nd most voted by them. It’s safe to say that who’s playing in the league possess a superior knowledge about who’s deserving or not. The only way for Beal to make it now is through someone’s potential injury, as their replacement. Is the shooting guard one of the most underappreciated players in the league?

"A little pissed off about it ... It's disrespectful. ... I'm gonna try and get my team in the playoffs for sure."



Strong words from Bradley Beal postgame when he was asked about missing the All-Star game. pic.twitter.com/VxaZ5VieUn — SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) January 31, 2020

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