I was reading about RB Fred Taylor who plays for the Jacksonville Jaguars football team and how he ranks in the top 10 all-time in rushing and has never made a pro bowl. Now I know the football pro bowl is a joke BUT when you have a player like Taylor who's played in the league for 10 years now HOW does he not get recognized at least ONE TIME?
So I thought about basketball and who's the best players in the league who's played AT LEAST 5 years and has never played in an all star game. It's a little tougher in basketball because basketball has fewer players than football. And with that, fewer elite players in basketball. So here is a team that I assembled of current players with at least 5 years that has never made an all star team....
...But before I start, I'd like to talk about my all-time favorite all-star snub and that player is Eddie Johnson. Johnson had one of the purest textbook jumpshots of all time. His mechanics on his jumpshot was nearly perfect. I remember back in the late-80's when he was playing for the Suns, CBS did a half time special on the mechanics of a jumpshot and he was the featured person. And I remember him talking about it and he had it down to a science as far as elbow placement and squaring the shoulders, etc. And this was way before you had those 'Better Basketball' videos and 'Magic Johnson's fundamentals' videos you see now. It's unbelievable that during the 80's Eddie Johnson had a career average of 18 ppg and never made an all-star appearance. That's goes to show you how good the NBA was back then because a guy right now who's averaging that much with at least 8 years in the league not make the all star team would be an atrocity. BUT Johnson was just unfortunate to play in an era of that magnitude. For those who never seen Johnson play in his prime, think of Glenn Rice. Rice has made a couple of all-star games BUT Johnson hasn't. ODD. Now to my current day team of 'at least 5 years in the league' and no all star appearances:
Point Guard: Jason Terry, ATL, DAL (CAREER: 15.9 PPG, 5.3 APG, 1.4 SPG)
One of the most underappreciated player in the league. This kid is a good shooter and a solid defender. I know he takes a lot of heat for being the guy that replaced 2-time MVP Steve Nash in Dallas BUT since Terry has been there the Mavs has averaged 60 wins a year.
Shooting Guard: Jason Richardson, GSW, CHA (CAREER: 18.3 PPG, 3.2 APG, 1.2 SPG)
Maybe him playing in the same conference as Kobe Bryant has hampered his chances of making the all star game? Unfortunately, probably loosing a lot of games might hurt your chances also. BUT make no mistake, he does put up all star numbers.
Center: Marcus Camby, TOR, NY, DEN (CAREER: 10.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.6 BPG)
The was a hard one to come up with. BUT Camby could have surely could have been an all star long time ago if it wasn't for injuries. He's yet to play a full season healthy. I figured if Ben Wallace could make an all star appearance on defense alone why can't Camby?
Small Forward: Richard Jefferson, NJ (CAREER: 16.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.0 APG)
When he came into the league he was just an athlete. BUT since his arrival he's expanded his all-around game. Injuries has slowed him these last few seasons but he still puts up some numbers that could potentially net him an all star appearance one year.
Power Forward: Lamar Odom, MIA, LAC, LAL (CAREER: 15.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 4.6 APG)
I'm not a huge Odom fan BUT looking at his numbers he has a great all-around game. Unfortunately, Odom has never had eye-popping numbers for one season. That's probably why he's never been to the all star game. BUT in the same sense, how is it a guy like Dale Davis, Jamal Magorlie and Brad Miller make the all star game without eye-popping numbers is beyond me.
What do you guys think?
So I thought about basketball and who's the best players in the league who's played AT LEAST 5 years and has never played in an all star game. It's a little tougher in basketball because basketball has fewer players than football. And with that, fewer elite players in basketball. So here is a team that I assembled of current players with at least 5 years that has never made an all star team....
...But before I start, I'd like to talk about my all-time favorite all-star snub and that player is Eddie Johnson. Johnson had one of the purest textbook jumpshots of all time. His mechanics on his jumpshot was nearly perfect. I remember back in the late-80's when he was playing for the Suns, CBS did a half time special on the mechanics of a jumpshot and he was the featured person. And I remember him talking about it and he had it down to a science as far as elbow placement and squaring the shoulders, etc. And this was way before you had those 'Better Basketball' videos and 'Magic Johnson's fundamentals' videos you see now. It's unbelievable that during the 80's Eddie Johnson had a career average of 18 ppg and never made an all-star appearance. That's goes to show you how good the NBA was back then because a guy right now who's averaging that much with at least 8 years in the league not make the all star team would be an atrocity. BUT Johnson was just unfortunate to play in an era of that magnitude. For those who never seen Johnson play in his prime, think of Glenn Rice. Rice has made a couple of all-star games BUT Johnson hasn't. ODD. Now to my current day team of 'at least 5 years in the league' and no all star appearances:
Point Guard: Jason Terry, ATL, DAL (CAREER: 15.9 PPG, 5.3 APG, 1.4 SPG)
One of the most underappreciated player in the league. This kid is a good shooter and a solid defender. I know he takes a lot of heat for being the guy that replaced 2-time MVP Steve Nash in Dallas BUT since Terry has been there the Mavs has averaged 60 wins a year.
Shooting Guard: Jason Richardson, GSW, CHA (CAREER: 18.3 PPG, 3.2 APG, 1.2 SPG)
Maybe him playing in the same conference as Kobe Bryant has hampered his chances of making the all star game? Unfortunately, probably loosing a lot of games might hurt your chances also. BUT make no mistake, he does put up all star numbers.
Center: Marcus Camby, TOR, NY, DEN (CAREER: 10.9 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 2.6 BPG)
The was a hard one to come up with. BUT Camby could have surely could have been an all star long time ago if it wasn't for injuries. He's yet to play a full season healthy. I figured if Ben Wallace could make an all star appearance on defense alone why can't Camby?
Small Forward: Richard Jefferson, NJ (CAREER: 16.3 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.0 APG)
When he came into the league he was just an athlete. BUT since his arrival he's expanded his all-around game. Injuries has slowed him these last few seasons but he still puts up some numbers that could potentially net him an all star appearance one year.
Power Forward: Lamar Odom, MIA, LAC, LAL (CAREER: 15.8 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 4.6 APG)
I'm not a huge Odom fan BUT looking at his numbers he has a great all-around game. Unfortunately, Odom has never had eye-popping numbers for one season. That's probably why he's never been to the all star game. BUT in the same sense, how is it a guy like Dale Davis, Jamal Magorlie and Brad Miller make the all star game without eye-popping numbers is beyond me.
What do you guys think?
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