Every year comes more controversy and more players that are being snubbed from the All-Star team. The All-Star selections can sometimes be a popularity contest and if you’re not as popular, you sadly won’t be selected. A lot of players that obviously don’t deserve to be an All-Star get voted really high for no reason. This happens every single year and it’s always a new set of players every year that get a massive influx of votes due to nostalgia or just fans trolling the All-Star voting.
Here are the votes this year so far:
Right now, a lot of the players you’d expect to lead the voting races are leading their conferences (for example: LeBron in West & KD in East). Then there are players that have no business having as many votes as they do like Derrick Rose, Klay Thompson, and Carmelo Anthony.
Anyways, let’s get into the players that have not gotten the appreciation they deserve and probably won’t get that appreciation from an All-Star selection…
1. Malcolm Brogdon
Malcolm Brogdon is having an efficient 2nd year on the Pacers. He’s averaging a very impressive 21.7 PPG, 6.7 APG, 4.0 RPG on 44.9% from the field and 38.7% from three. He’s been the main ball handler all year for the Pacers and has played up to it. I always thought the Bucks messed up hard when they chose Eric Bledsoe over Brogdon, but now it’s extremely glaring. Brogdon has blossomed into one of the best point guards in the NBA with the Pacers.
Although the Pacers are on a 3 game losing streak right now, Brogdon and the Pacers are still the #5 seed in the East and still can make it back into the top 3 seed like they were earlier this season. Brogdon has been a big reason why they’ve won a lot of games with his leadership and poise and ability to make plays when you need him to. His shot looks improved and way more consistent than last year.
Brogdon deserves to be an All-Star not only due to his statistics but also team success. A lot of these players that are considered for All-Star selections aren’t even winning games (Russell Westbrook/Derrick Rose/etc.). Brogdon is playing the best basketball of his career while being a huge reason why the Pacers are a top 5 seed in the East right now, definitely deserved but won’t get it.
2. Tobias Harris
When thinking about the stars in Philadelphia, fans normally think of Joel Embiid or Ben Simmons… but what about Tobias Harris. Tobias Harris is having an insanely efficient season this year which is nearly 50/40/90. Looking at his stats, he is averaging 20.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 3.0 APG on 51.4% from the field, 44% from three, and 86.7% from the charity line. Tobias Harris has been a key reason for the 76ers’ success this year so far. They are the #1 seed and Harris has been that consistent scorer they can rely on every single game.
The 76ers have been looking for someone to close games for them ever since Jimmy Butler left, Tobias Harris has been that player for them this season…
All in all, Tobias Harris is playing at an extremely efficient and high level while being the 3rd option most of the time for the 76ers. He won’t get the recognition he deserves as he’s not as notable like Embiid or Ben Simmons. Harris deserves to be an All-Star for being one of the best players on a team that is the #1 seed in the East. He’s averaging over 20 PPG and doing it on efficient numbers and on the #1 team in the East, it doesn’t get more clear than that.
3. Collin Sexton
Although the Cavaliers are the 10th seed right now in the East, they’re playing better than expected this year and Collin Sexton has been a big reason why. Sexton is currently averaging 23.6 PPG, 4.1 APG, and 2.5 RPG on 48.1% from the field and 43.1% from three. He put up similar percentages last year, but this year he’s getting slightly more recognition (Although, still not enough).
The Cavaliers were forcing Sexton to be a point guard that he isn’t. I still think Sexton has to work on his playmaking as a primary ball handler, but boy can he score. He is relentless on the drive and has an extremely underrated shot. Going back to his crazy 42 point game performance vs the Nets to carry them to a win, he’s a very underrated shooter in this league. Sexton is playing the best basketball of his career right now and definitely deserves to be an All-Star with the numbers he’s putting up. Sadly, there are so many other talented guards ahead of him in the East where he won’t get the recognition from the All-Star selections due to it.
