A week ago, the NBA All Star Game starters were announced.  In the Eastern Conference, Giannis Antetokounmpo was voted as the captain.  In the West, LeBron James was selected as captain. The two captains will pick from the pool of starters in a draft, and then select the reserves.

Eastern Conference Starters (Pool):

G: Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks / 1x All Star Selection)

G: Kemba Walker (Boston Celtics / 4x All Star Selection)

F: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks / 4x All Star Selection)

F: Pascal Siakim (Toronto Raptors / 1x All Star Selection)

C: Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers / 3x All Star Selection)

Western Conference Starters (Pool):

G: James Harden (Houston Rockets / 8x All Star Selection)

G: Luka Dončić (Dallas Mavericks / 1x All Star Selection)

F: LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers / 16x All Star Selection)

F: Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers / 4x All Star Selection)

C: Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers / 7x All Star Selection)

Eastern Conference Reserves (Pool):

G: Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers / 2x All Star Selection

G: Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors / 6x All Star Selection)

F: Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics / 1x All Star Selection)

F: Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat / 5x All Star Selection)

F: Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks / 4x All Star Selection)

C: Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers / 1x All Star Selection)

C: Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat / 1x All Star Selection)

Western Conference Reserves (Pool):

G: Russell Westbrook (Houston Rockets / 8x All Star Selection)

G: Chris Paul (Oklahoma City Thunder / 10x All Star Selection)

G: Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers / 5x All Star Selection)

G: Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz / 1x All Star Selection)

F: Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans / 1x Time All Star Selection)

C: Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz / 1x Time All Star Selection)

C: Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets / 2x Time All Star Selection)

The NBA All Star Game is regarded as a joke across sports.  This year, they are doing something pretty cool. According to a Bleacher Report Instagram post, it says, “The fourth quarter will no longer be timed.  The final score will be the leading team’s total after three quarters plus 24, in honor of Kobe Bryant.” It is awesome that the NBA is paying homage to Bryant after the tragedy.

One thing that is absolutely ridiculous, though, is that Devin Booker is not an All Star.  Booker is averaging 27.1 PPG on 51% shooting with 6.4 APG. Those are fantastic numbers and well deserving of an All Star selection.  

Oh and by the way, the only players in NBA history to average 27 PPG, 6 APG, on 50% shooting in a season are… Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Larry Bird, Oscar Robertson, and Stephen Curry.

Say it with me: RIDICULOUS!

Not only was Booker snubbed, but so was Bradley Beal.  He is putting up 28.6 PPG on 45.3% shooting with 6.3 APG.  Those numbers are very similar to Devin Booker and also deserving of a selection.  The NBA may need to rethink who are picking these players. It is a shame that we won’t see Booker or Beal in Chicago.