Every year, fantastic players suffer All-Star snubs. There’s only 24 spots to go around and back in the days it was even more exclusive.
Like clockwork, social media goes crazy with accusations of worthy players being snubbed. In 2017 Devin Booker became the youngest player to score over 60 points in a game, but he just made his first All-Star squad this season, pre coronavirus lockdown. Zach Lavine and Jaylen Brown are also blooming stars without an All-Star Game appearance.
Rookie of the Year, Ja Morant, who will see plenty of All-Star games before his career ends, was considered but didn’t make the cut.
But who do you believe are among the best players to NEVER make an NBA All-Star team? You won’t believe that a couple of these guys never made one.
Here’s my Top Five
Bibby was one of the best all-around guards in the NBA for a three-year stretch with the Sacramento Kings, teaming with Chris Webber, Peja Stojakovic and coach Rick Adelman to contend in the Western Conference for a scintillating sliver of time back from 2003 to 2006. His best season was in 2005-06 when he averaged 21 points per game to go along with six assists.
Miller was once known to dominate a game with the slipperiest of scoring techniques from all over the floor. A consummate floor general, Miller was always a threat to give you at least 15 points per game and 10 assists per game over a seven-year stretch. However, each year he faced stiff competition from other All-Star guards and never broke through. But his game definitely had some big drip to it.
For a span, Camby was the man! Though his most memorable years were in New York and Denver, he continued to impact the game throughout the length of his 19-year career. Long, lean, and athletic, The Camby Man was a force to be reckoned with on the defensive end. He averaged nearly four blocks per game to go along with at least 10 points and 10 rebounds per game, but the fans never saw him as anything more than a glue guy.
ROD STRICKLAND
Many diehard Knicks fans still mourn the day when Rod Strickland was shipped off to the San Antonio Spurs in 1990. Maaan, listen, prototypical size for the position, New York City playground-honed handles, the ability to finish strong among the trees, and the vision and intelligence to get his teammates involved, Strick is still one of my favorite point guards of all time.
[jwplayer l4oqemgn]
His omission from the ranks of NBA All-Star immortality is downright criminal.
SAM PERKINS: The Original Stretch Five
The Big Smooth was just that, smooth and silky with the buttery soft southpaw touch. He was also the original stretch five, shooting a career high 45 percent from beyond the arc in 1992. Though you wouldn’t know it due to his NBA championship cupboard being bare, he was a part of some excellent contending teams in Los Angeles and Seattle. His humble career averages of 11 points and five rebounds per game throw shade on a versatile skill set that was ahead of its time 20 years ago.
JAMAL CRAWFORD:
Jamal Crawford is one of the most lethal and multi-faceted shooters the game has ever seen. His ability to do one thing excellently — get buckets — made him the best Sixth Man in the game a record three-times. His epic handles earned him the moniker ‘J Crossover’.
https://youtu.be/2OAwluwKvlI
He’s had games in his career where he looked like a Top 50 to ever do it candidate. But his inability to defend regulated him to a backup role throughout his career and despite some gaudy statistical seasons, never got the All-star nod.
