NBA News: Former MVP Among Four Biggest All-Star Starter Snubs

On Thursday evening, the NBA announced the ten players who were named starters for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game which will be happening in March.

LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, Luka Doncic of the Dallas Mavericks, Nikola Jokic of the Denver Nuggets, Kawhi Leonard of the Los Angeles Clippers and Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors were voted in as the starters from the Western Conference.

Meanwhile, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets, Bradley Beal of the Washington Wizards, Giannis Antetokounmpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers were the starters voted in from the Eastern Conference.

The All-Star Game’s starters are determined by a combination of votes from fans, players, and media. Because only ten players get to be voted in as starters, it’s inevitable that each year, there are some who are considered as snubs.

Here are four of the biggest stars who should have been All-Star starters this season.

James Harden - Brooklyn Nets

James Harden has been voted in as a starter in each of the last four NBA All-Star games. While “The Beard” is with a new team and a new situation this year, his game hasn’t missed a beat.

Harden is currently leading the league in assists while still putting up 24.3 points per game as essentially the third offensive option with the Brooklyn Nets.

Two-thirds of the Nets’ big three are starters, and it’s arguable that all of them should have been.

Still, Harden will likely be named as one of the reserves and will compete in his ninth All-Star game.

Damian Lillard - Portland Trail Blazers

For the last few seasons, Damian Lillard has shown that he is a Top-10 player in the league, arguably even Top-5.

This season is no different. Lillard is currently averaging 29.8 points and 7.7 points per game while helping the Blazers to the No. 4-seed in the West.

With that production and that winning rate, coupled with Lillard’s all-around swagger on the court, he should have definitely been named a starter in the West.

Donovan Mitchell - Utah Jazz

At least Utah Jazz coach Quinn Snyder will be taking the rein as head coach for the Western Conference because his top star Donovan Mitchell was snubbed as a starter.

“Spida” Mitchell is putting up career highs in points per game at 24.2 per game. On top of that, he has helped lead the red-hot Jazz to the best record in the NBA.

It would be hard to argue that the fourth-year star is deserving of a starter spot.

Chris Paul - Phoenix Suns

Chris Paul may not be putting up monster numbers like most other guards on this list, but it’s clear that he has made an undeniable impact on the Phoenix Suns.

Paired with an offensive star in Devin Booker, Paul has managed to put up a respectable 17.2 points per game, while dishing out 8.2 assists per game.

More importantly, Paul has helped steer the once perennial cellar-dwelling Suns to the fifth seed in the ultra-tough Western Conference.