In the history of the NBA, there have been numerous players who were snubbed from the NBA All-Star Game despite having exceptional individual seasons. This is a topic that sparks heated debates among NBA fans, as some believe certain players were unjustly left off the All-Star team. Over the years, there have been a handful of players who clearly deserved a spot on the All-Star roster but were overlooked for various reasons. While the 2024 NBA All-Star reserves are set to be announced soon, let’s take a trip down memory lane and explore some of the most significant single-season NBA All-Star snubs in history.
One player who often goes unnoticed in NBA history is Michael Adams. Although his career may have been forgettable, there was one season where he showcased All-Star-worthy numbers. During the 1990-91 season, Adams’ statistics were truly remarkable. It is worth noting that the Denver Nuggets, his team at the time, struggled with only 20 wins after the departures of Alex English and Fat Lever. Despite this, Adams stood out as the driving force behind the Nuggets’ efforts. Averaging an impressive 26.5 points and 10.5 assists per game, Adams’ performance certainly warranted an All-Star selection.
As we eagerly await the announcement of the 2024 NBA All-Star reserves, let’s not forget the players from the past who were snubbed despite their outstanding contributions to the game. The NBA’s rich history is filled with instances where deserving players were left off the All-Star roster, leaving fans and analysts alike scratching their heads. It’s a reminder that even the most talented athletes can be overlooked for various reasons. So, as we celebrate the upcoming All-Star Game, let’s also take a moment to appreciate those players who may not have received the recognition they deserved.
Stats: 15.9 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 2.0 APG
Most NBA All-Stars put up big scoring numbers, but that is not a set-in-stone standard. Great defensive players also deserve to be in the All-Star Game, and Rudy Gobert’s absence in back-to-back seasons caused a lot of controversy. Gobert won the Defensive Player of the Year Award in both 2017-18 and 2018-19, yet he wasn’t chosen as an All-Star in either of those seasons. He was especially worthy in the latter of those two years, as his offensive numbers saw an uptick. With an increase in scoring, Gobert was definitely snubbed from the All-Star game in 2018-19, considering he was the best defender in the league at the time, especially when it came to protecting the rim.
Stats: 14.7 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 13.8 APG
John Stockton was the ultimate pure point guard, and he was known for racking up assists and steals for the Utah Jazz. He did both of those at an extreme level in 1987-88, yet he was snubbed from making his first All-Star Game. On top of his league-leading 13.8 assists per game, Stockton created a ton of extra possessions with 3.0 steals per game. The Stockton and Karl Malone pairing was just getting started in 1987-88, but it was obvious that Stockton was going to be the engine that made the Jazz’s offense work for a long time. After the snubbing, Stockton’s scoring saw a slight uptick, which helped him make the next nine All-Star Games.
Stats: 25.1 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 2.7 APG
Karl-Anthony Towns has established himself as the greatest three-point shooting center of all time in recent seasons, but fans didn’t know that was for sure going to be the case during his early days in the league. Towns came into the league hot, but it usually takes one season of All-Star production before a player actually becomes an All-Star. That was the case for the Minnesota Timberwolves big man in 2016-17, as he was more than deserving of an All-Star nod, but his lack of experience and sustained production in the league at this time meant he got snubbed.
Stats: 28.8 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 4.4 APG
World B. Free was a much better player than his one All-Star appearance would indicate. One season that he definitely deserved to be labeled an All-Star but wasn’t was in 1978-79. World B. Free scored 28.8 points per game in his first year with the San Diego Clippers, which was the second most in the league. World B. Free is definitely one of the biggest NBA All-Star Game snubs ever.
Stats: 24.1 PPG, 3.5 RPG, 5.6 APG
Before Steph Curry became a legend on the Golden State Warriors, Monta Ellis was the entertaining guard who could score in bunches for the team. Ellis was athletic, had a great handle, and was a highlight waiting to happen. In 2010-11, that led to 24.1 points per game. The Western Conference was stacked with talent during Ellis’ prime, though, which led to him not making the All-Star Game not only in 2011 but in any year in his career. The season after being snubbed from the All-Star Game, Ellis was traded to the Milwaukee Bucks, which paved the way for Steph Curry to embark on a Hall of Fame career.
Elite rebounding was a highly coveted trait during Nate Thurmond’s playing days, which makes his snubbing from the 1968-69 All-Star Game all the more surprising. Thurmond had made the previous four All-Star Games, and then he collected 19.7 rebounds per game in 1968-69. Despite this, he was not selected as an All-Star. What makes his snubbing even more surprising is his 21.5 points per game were the second most of his career. Thurmond’s 19.7 rebounds per game were the most ever for someone who didn’t make the All-Star Game.
Until LeBron James just surpassed him, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was tied for the most All-Star appearances of all time with 19. Seeing the six-time MVP in the All-Star Game was second nature, which made his exclusion from the game in 1977-78 extremely bizarre. In fact, that season was the only time he ever didn’t make the All-Star Game, but it was far from his worst season. Abdul-Jabbar had a player efficiency rating of 29.2 and a box plus/minus of 9.0. Both of those stats are great indicators of contributing to winning, and both of the marks that Abdul-Jabbar put up in 1977-78 were the best ever for someone who didn’t make the All-Star Game. Abdul-Jabbar ended up playing a resectable 62 games that season, but he missed an extended period of time prior to All-Star weekend, which prevented him from being voted in.
Damian Lillard is best known for his clutch shooting and ability to score the basketball, but he did a little bit of everything for the Portland Trail Blazers in 2016-17. Lillard was an All-Star in his second and third seasons, but he didn’t make it even after his numbers increased in year four. The 2016-17 season was year five for Lillard, and everyone expected him to be back in the All-Star Game. This was justified by his play, too, as Lillard stuffed the stat sheet as a scorer, playmaker, and rebounder. Despite this, Lillard wasn’t selected as an All-Star because Steph Curry, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, and Klay Thompson were also all having monster seasons in the Western Conference at the guard positions. Lillard’s previous season could also be considered one of the biggest All-Star snub seasons ever.
When you think of players who changed the game of basketball, names like Steph Curry, Michael Jordan, and Dirk Nowitzki come to mind. Nate “Tiny” Archibald also deserves to be in that conversation because he paved the way for small, but explosive guards to have an impact in the league. He put up massive numbers during his second season in the NBA, but the league was still becoming familiar with his game, and it wasn’t until the following season that he made the All-Star Game. That following season, Archibald led the league in both scoring and assists, but his numbers from the season prior – 1971-72 – were nearly as impressive. Archibald was second in scoring and third in assists, yet he didn’t make the All-Star Game.
In a stunning display of snubbing, Bradley Beal emerges as the ultimate victim of the NBA All-Star selection process. With an impressive average of 30.5 points per game, Beal’s scoring prowess places him in a league of his own. Only a select few, a mere 79 players, have achieved such a feat throughout the history of the sport. Yet, despite his remarkable performance during the 2019-20 season, Beal was shockingly left out of the All-Star Game. This omission is made even more egregious by the fact that he holds the record for the highest point total by a player who played the majority of the season without making the All-Star cut.
However, Beal’s contributions to the game extended far beyond scoring alone. With 4.2 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game, Beal showcased his versatility as a shooting guard. Despite the Washington Wizards’ lackluster performance, hindered by John Wall’s injury, Beal’s individual brilliance became the sole driving force that kept his team afloat. It is a true testament to his talent and determination that he was able to maintain such high-level play amidst a challenging environment.
As we reflect on this unfortunate snub, it becomes clear that Beal’s absence from the All-Star team was a grave oversight. His all-around game and ability to carry his team in the face of adversity should have earned him a well-deserved spot among the league’s elite. Yet, despite this disappointment, Beal’s resilience and unwavering commitment to excellence continue to shine through. It is only a matter of time before he receives the recognition he so rightfully deserves.
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