NBA All-Star Predictions 2017: 10 Players Who Should Make It But Won’t; Will Blake Griffin, Damian Lillard Get Snubbed?

At first glance at the early voting results for the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, the age-old debate for who will and who won’t make the game – as well as who deserves a spot and who doesn’t – can now commence.

The NBA released Thursday the official vote tallies and the results were far from surprising. The Cleveland Cavaliers duo of forward LeBron James and point guard Kyrie Irving have the two highest vote totals across both the Eastern and Western Conferences, 595,288 and 543,030, respectively, followed by the Golden State Warriors' Kevin Durant and reigning two-time league MVP Stephen Curry.

The results also showed the usual cast of All-Star characters and some new faces. The Houston Rockets’ James Harden, the Oklahoma City Thunder’s Russell Westbrook join Irving, James, Curry, Durant and rising star and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Anteokounmpo as the only players to garner 500,000 votes or more, and each is a lock for an invitation to this year’s All-Star Game.

But, as in most years, there were some surprises with fans voting for a player’s name and history rather than their body of work in the first half of this season. Despite injuries and subpar play, Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade is second behind Irving amongst East guards and ahead of more deserving starters like the Toronto Raptors' backcourt of DeMar DeRozan and Kyle Lowry, the Washington Wizards' John Wall and the Boston Celtics' Isaiah Thomas.

Over in the West frontcourt, Warriors center Zaza Pachulia is once again receiving a major push from his fans in Georgia and ranks second behind Durant. He’s ahead of the San Antonio Spurs' Kawhi Leonard, the New Orleans Pelicans’ Anthony Davis, teammate and forward Draymond Green and Sacramento Kings star DeMarcus Cousins.

Fortunately, at least for most of the players that fans failed to recognize in the early voting, the coaches from both conferences will offer a corrective measure and make sure they make an All-Star roster. There’s also the newly instituted player and media members vote to help more deserving players.

But not everyone can make the team, even if they have a very strong case. There are about 10 deserving players who will likely come up short for a variety of reasons.

Frontcourt

Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz

A glut of big men in the West and Pachulia’s rise may mean the NBA’s leading shot-blocker won’t be an All-Star. Coaches and players are likely to vote in Cousins, Green, and Davis well before Gobert, who’s tied for third in the league with 25 double-doubles and averaging career-highs of 12.5 points and 12.2 points per game. Oh, and the Jazz are fifth in the loaded West, unlike the Pelicans.

Gordon Hayward, SF, Utah Jazz

Gobert’s teammate is trapped in the same situation. He’s the leading scorer for the fifth-best team in the West – record-wise – by putting up 22.2 points and 6.0 rebounds per contest, both career-highs. He’s also shooting 45.5 percent from the floor, Hayward’s best mark in five years, even though he’s putting up a career-best 15.8 shots per game.

Steven Adams, C/PF, Oklahoma City Thunder

Westbrook has been phenomenal, and Adams production is a big reason why. The seven-footer is fifth in the league with a 59.5 shooting percentage and has picked up Durant’s lost production in OKC with a career-best 12.1 points and 7.8 rebounds. Fans should want to see an Adams-Westbrook pick-and-roll all night in New Orleans, but probably won’t.

Myles Turner, C, Indiana Pacers

Part of a major wave of rising second-year big men, Turner has, at times, looked unstoppable. He’s putting up 15.8 points and 7.6 rebounds while swatting 2.5 shots a game, third-best in the league, and actually ranks second with 3.98 blocks per 48 minutes. In Turner’s case, the New York Knicks' Carmelo Anthony – not deserving – and the Chicago Bulls’ Jimmy Butler and the Cavs’ Kevin Love are likely to snag a spot that could’ve been Turner’s.

Jabari Parker, PF, Milwaukee Bucks

Anteokounmpo’s an absolute marvel, but Parker has really helped the Greek Freak improve his game. Now seemingly fully recovered from the knee injury that limited his first two years in the league, Parker’s putting up 20.3 points, 5.7 boards and 2.4 assists per game with 1.1 steals as well. He’s also become one of the most ferocious finishers at the rim. But he faces the same fate as Turner.

Kristaps Porzingis, PF, New York Knicks

The Latvian made the Knicks realistic playoff contenders this season with 20.1 points and 7.8 rebounds and nearly two blocks a game. He shoots 40.2 percent from beyond the arc and 45.2 percent overall, and is one of the most exciting players to watch. Alas, if the Knicks actually were a “super team” he might be joining Anthony in New Orleans.

Blake Griffin, PF, Los Angeles Clippers

Since the Clippers are fourth in the West and Griffin’s numbers have remained steady compared to the last few seasons, he very well could make it. But he also faces the Cousins-Green-Davis dilemma. Plus, Griffin’s missed 12 of L.A.’s 38 games, a big chunk that could cost him votes from coaches or players. Fans also don’t seem too enthused with Griffin currently eighth in voting among the West’s bigs.

Karl Anthony-Towns, C, Minnesota Timberwolves

Some said former T-Wolve Kevin Love used to miss the All-Star Game because he was gobbling up stats on a very poor team. Towns may meet the same fate on 11-24 Minnesota. But there’s no denying his dominance. He’s notching 21.6 points and 11.6 rebounds, good for a tie with Gobert in double-doubles, and other than Davis, Westbrook and Love he’s the only other player averaging 20-plus points and 10-plus rebounds.

Backcourt

Eric Gordon, SG, Houston Rockets

The leading Sixth Man of the Year candidate, Gordon actually leads the NBA in threes with 141 made – currently seven more than Curry and he’s 11th overall at 43 percent. Houston’s third in the West because of Harden and Gordon.

Kemba Walker, PG, Charlotte Hornets

Currently ninth in voting amongst East guards, Walker’s been sensational and put Charlotte in contention for a top-three seed in the conference. His scoring has reached new heights with 23.2 points per game and Walker’s three-point shooting has jump significantly from 37.1 percent last season to 41.8 percent this year. He’s also connecting on 46.9 percent of his total shots while dishing 5.4 assists. Wade, Wall, Thomas and DeRozan make it almost impossible for Walker, though.

Damian Lillard, PG, Portland Trail Blazers

Unlike most seasons, when the Blazers were winning and Lillard was getting snubbed, this season it seems like it might make sense to leave the NBA’s seventh-highest scorer in Portland. The Blazers are 16-22 despite Lillard’s 26.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and 6.3 assists per game. Lillard’s a special scorer but it’s hard to justify a spot over guys on winning teams like Paul, Harden and Curry.