5 deserving NBA stars who didn’t get a chance to make their All-Star game debut

The selection process for the 63rd edition of the NBA‘s All-Star Game to be held in the New Orleans Arena on February 16th was completed last Thursday. The 12 best players from each conference face off in an exhibition game, to be played on Sunday, which marks the end of the All-Star weekend in the NBA.

Ever since the announcement of the full roster for the game, the most trending topic of debate has been the All-Star snubs – the evidently deserving players who didn’t get the nod from the coaches for All-Star selection.

Here’s a compilation of the five most deserving players who didn’t make it to the All-Star game.

1. Mike Conley

Mike Conley (#11)

You need a lot of luck to be selected as an All-Star guard when you are in a conference filled with premier point guards like Tony Parker, Chris Paul and Damian Lillard. Despite that, Conley would have probably made the West All-Stars had his team registered a better record through the first half of the season.

When Marc Gasol, the backbone of their offense and defense, was out with an injury, Conley stepped up his level of play, and he most certainly deserved an All-Star spot for his numbers.

Both averages of 17.4 points and 7.2 assists and 18 points and 6.3 assists recorded in the absence and presence of the big man respectively are career highs.

His game is not flashy or extravagant so he might not necessarily be entertaining in the way the fans expect an All-Star player to be, but he has proven his worth for Memphis with his exceptional pick and roll game and good court vision.

2. Goran Dragic

Goran Dragic (right)

One half of the dangerous Phoenix Suns back court, Goran Dragic has kept the Suns afloat even without his partner Eric Bledsoe. In January, he has shot 45.9% of his shots from long range while averaging 21.9 points and 6.5 assists. He is the reason behind Phoenix still talking about the Playoffs despite Bledsoe being out with an injury.

The evolution from being a back-up for Steve Nash, for most of his short career, to an All-Star candidate, deserves applause. Damian Lillard’s selection over him surprised many, considering he has a higher rebound rate, assists rate and true shooting percentage than Lillard does.

We might not see his name make it to All-Star selection discussions every year but he could still make it to New Orleans this season with new NBA Commissioner Adam Silver yet to name a replacement for the injured Kobe Bryant.