Kevin Durant defends All-Star selections while sympathizing with snubbed players

Click here if you are having trouble viewing the gallery and video on your mobile device.



Want Warriors news in your inbox? Sign up for the free DubsDaily newsletter.

OAKLAND — The tone in Russell Westbrook’s voice sounded annoyed. The Oklahoma City guard called it “outrageous” that Paul George was not among the reserves selected for the 2018 NBA All-Star team.

But instead of only touting George’s credentials as a four-time All-Star, his second-place standing in the NBA in steals (2.11) or his 20.9 points per game average, Westbrook also took indirect shots at those who made the team. That included Westbrook implying the Warriors should not have fielded four All-Star players for the second consecutive year in Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green.

“You got guys who are four people from one team,” Westbrook told reporters. “You got guys complaining about getting snubbed, so they get in. You got guys that are being talked about all the time. But you got guys who deserve it that should be in it.” To subscribe to the Planet Dubs podcast, click here.

After hearing Westbrooks words relayed back to him, Durant argued that the Warriors all have players that deserve to play in the NBA All-Star game on Feb. 18 in Los Angeles. But instead of getting in a public back-and-forth with a former teammate whose relationship has become dissected since leaving the Oklahoma City last summer via free agency, Durant echoed Westbrook’s argument that George should have made the team.

“There’s going to be a couple of guys that gets snubbed every year. Paul George is an All-Star player, no matter who puts him in the game,” Durant told Bay Area News Group following the Warriors’ 123-112 victory over the New York Knicks on Tuesday at Oracle Arena. “He’s a super star. He’s a star. It don’t matter. I’m sure it would mean a lot to me if I was Paul as well, or his teammates. I’m sure he deserves to be in there along with a lot of other guys. But [expletive]. That’s just how it is. You know what I’m saying? Everybody gets snubbed. That’s how it is. I really don’t know what to say to that. I think everybody that is in the game deserves to be in there.”

Durant also argued that Los Angeles Clippers guard Lou Williams and Houston guard Chris Paul should have been among the Western Conference reserves, while Detroit center Andre Drummond should have been among the Eastern Conference reserves. Instead, the NBA All-Star selections play out a different way. Like our Warriors Facebook page for more Warriors news, commentary and conversation.

While Curry and Cleveland forward LeBron James were named captains after leading among fan, media and player votes, Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, DeMar DeRozan, Kyrie Irving, Joel Embiid, Anthony Davis, James Harden and DeMarcus Cousins are among the starters. The pool of reserve players include Thompson, Green, Westbrook, LaMarcus Aldridge, Jimmy Butler, Damian Lillard, Karl-Anthony Towns, Bradley Beal, Al Horford, Kevin Love, Kyle Lowry, Victor Oladipo, Kristaps Porzingis and John Wall. To determine the starters, the NBA factored in votes from fans (50 percent), select media members (25 percent) and player ballots (25 percent). NBA coaches voted for the reserves.

Therefore, Durant advocated All-Star rosters should expand from 12 to 15 to fit the league-maximum that NBA teams can employ for a regular-season game.

“That will take away the snubs,” Durant said. “Why not expand it a little bit so we don’t have to worry about [expletive] like that? Guys that are All-Star players are getting left off. They deserve to be in there.”

Durant argued those guys included Thompson and Green, which ensures the first time in NBA history four players from the same team will play in an All-Star game for two consecutive seasons. Thompson has averaged 20.4 points while shooting 48.5 percent from the field and 44.9 percent from 3-point range, earned rave reviews for his defense and missed only one game for rest purposes. Though Green has critiqued his defense and outside shooting (31.8 percent), Green has still averaged 11.3 points on a 46.6 percent clip while ranking fifth in the NBA in assists (7.5) and 28th overall in rebounds (7.8).

“It was fresh and new last year so everybody kind of expected it. But now it’s not as new and there’s more talent on the West now. So I understand where everybody is coming from. But Draymond deserves to be an All-Star. Klay deserves to be an All-Star,” Durant said. “Guys have great seasons and work hard. Klay has improved his field-goal percentage all year. Draymond is just steady and solid every game. We’re winning basketball games. This is just the nature of where we are right now. People love to see us play. People know about us. We get talked about on TV all the time. That’s just how it is. Life ain’t fair. But there’s so many guys. Paul George deserves to be an All-Star. He’s an All-Star player. He’s a player everyone wants on their team. But it’s a numbers game.”

To make sense of that numbers game, Warriors coach Steve Kerr said he wrestled with deciding between “three or four guys for the last spot” that he left undisclosed. Kerr added “if there are two guys I deem as equal, I’m going to vote for the guy whose team has won more.”

“I get that, but I’ve never been big on that. That’s a team accomplishment. You make the playoffs for that,” Durant said. “That’s a team accomplishment. It can’t be all that way with the criteria. But I feel like it has to be a balance. If you’re a good player and you’re helping your team win, you may not be winning as much, but you’re helping the team, it’s hard.”

It was not hard, though, for Durant to declare in unequivocal terms that the Warriors fully deserve to have four players in the 2018 All-Star game.

Share this: Print

View more on The Mercury News