The NBA All-Star game has been a topic of controversy in recent seasons because there are selection snubs that seem to catch everybody by surprise. There is no scientific formula for who gets in and who doesn’t, but it seems as though every year there is talk about how one or two players didn’t get in based on reputation more than merit. This season, we will try to stay ahead of the curve by predicting the players we think are most likely to get snubbed before it happens.
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors
What is one half of the “Splash Brothers” without the other? Well, the fact that Steph Curry is having an MVP-type season has helped overshadow the career numbers that Thompson has put up this season. Curry isn’t the only player that makes the Warriors go. Thompson is a huge big reason why the Warriors own the best record in the NBA. Remember, the Warriors thought long and hard about trading him away for Kevin Love but instead, decided to keep him and reward him with a max contract extension.
He’s delivered, averaging 21.6 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game and while every one of those numbers is slightly lower than Curry’s totals, it’s worth noting that Thompson has the better three-point shooting percentage at (44% compared to 39%) while also accepting his role as a complimentary player rather than being the man for Golden State.
Thompson could very well be an All-Star if he played for Memphis or Sacramento but because he’s the second-best player on his own team, there’s a good chance he’ll be overlooked. The other issue is that he’ll have to earn a spot over someone like Dwight Howard or Dirk Nowitzki, which is unlikely to happen.
Jeff Teague, Atlanta Hawks
The Hawks are off to their best start in franchise history with a record of 28-8. One of the big reason for the team’s success the play of point guard Jeff Teague. So far this season, the 26-year old ranks fifth among Eastern Conference point guards in points, fourth in assists and second in steals and his play is arguably the biggest reason why Atlanta owns the best record in the Eastern Conference right now. Yes, the Hawks have the best record in the East – believe it or not – and they have the second-best record in the entire league (only Golden State is better).
Teague might not be as flashy as some of the guards that make the All-Star team in his place but he has delivered every single night and his numbers support that he should make it. He has 36 point-assist double-doubles and he’s the leading scorer on the conference’s best team yet it just feels like someone like Derrick Rose or Kyrie Irving will take his spot.
Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons
Yet another player who benefited from the departure of Josh Smith (Teague also took off after the Hawks decided to let Smith walk in 2013 free agency), Drummond might have been a lock to make the All-Star cast if Detroit had never brought in his former teammate. Smith’s presence undoubtedly hindered both Drummond’s production and the overall play of the Pistons. Since cutting Smith, the Pistons are 7-1 and one of the main reasons is because Drummond’s play has taken off.
Meanwhile, Drummond has averaged 12.8 points, a team-high 13.3 rebound, and nearly two blocks per game on the season, which are legit numbers for a big man in the East. Over the last eight games without Smith, though, Drummond has boosted those numbers to 13.1 PPG and 15.0 RPG. Drummond would be a lock to make it if he played for a team like the Cleveland Cavaliers but playing in Detroit hurts his case. As does the fact that the team is just 12-24 on the season. It’s likely that players like Joakim Noah, Chris Bosh, Paul Millsap and Pau Gasol snap up the forward spots but Drummond deserves to be there.
