Bradley Beal
Bradley Beal admits being flattered about interest on him but is thankful he remains a Washington Wizard. Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards handles the ball in front of Bojan Bogdanovic #44 of the Indiana Pacers during the second half at Capital One Arena on January 30, 2019 in Washington, DC. Getty Images/Patrick Smith

KEY POINTS

  • The NBA All-Star reserves were announced today
  • Notable players such as Devin Booker and Bradley Beal lead the league in scoring but were snubbed of a selection 
  • Fans and players react to the selection process

Another round of All-Star snubs takes the main debate topic across the NBA. Although it’s safe to continue with the mindset that the league is rewarding winning, it hasn’t been consistent in this year’s selection.

Trae Young, for example, has produced out of this world statistics for the Atlanta Hawks. He is third in the league in scoring and is putting up 29.2 points, 4.6 rebounds and 9 assists per game.

If offensive numbers were the main criteria of making the All-Star Team then there should be no argument.

However, the league recognizes winning as well. In Trae Young’s case, his team is currently last in the Eastern Conference.

While the second-year guard’s production is phenomenal, his selection creates a confusing precedent in terms of selection.

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker has a better winning record than Trae Young and is producing stellar numbers – more than 27 points per game and is nearing the eighth seed in the West. Although they aren’t a dominant force in their conference, they’re inching closer in contention with 20-27 win-loss record.

Interestingly, Brandon Ingram made the cut while playing for the New Orleans Pelicans – a team one rank lower than the Suns in the standings.

A similar situation can apply to Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal. He is the league’s sixth-leading scorer with 28.6 points per game. While his team isn’t as near in the playoff picture, they’re definitely a few games ahead of Trae Young’s Atlanta Hawks. Immediately after his snub, Bradley Beal went on an offensive display scoring 34 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists in a 121-107 victory.

These snubs raised questions around the league. LA Clippers guard Lou Williams shared his thoughts on the situation.

The Clippers are 33-14 in the Western Conference but Paul George failed to make the selection. Although he has sat out a quite number of games, it’s noteworthy that the second team in the Western Conference only has one representative for the All-Star game.

There’s no question that the NBA is filled with talent. Unfortunately, not everyone gets the All-Star nod and the league will just have to wait for injury replacements.

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