Hey Now, You’re an All-Star. Um, So What?
A question regarding All-Star meaningfulness, and a plea for new blood.
by Russ Bengtson
What does it mean to be an NBA All-Star? This is a serious question that doesn’t have a simple answer. It’s obvious that many NBA watchers consider it a noteable achievement—the most popular descriptive for a player who’s been traded, signed or arrested is “X-time All-Star.” For example, “On Sunday, the Chicago Bulls completed a 37-player, eight-team deal that finally brought nine-time All-Star Kobe Bryant to the Windy City.” That’s just the way things have always worked.
But why? For as long as I can remember, the fans have selected the All-Star starters, which means it’s essentially a popularity contest. Do we really want to give so much credit to achievements based on a stupid system better suited to selecting the winner of American Idol or the next Presidential election? (All kidding aside, NBA All-Star voting is much worse than that—if Presidential elections worked the same way, Hillary Clinton would just vote for herself 27.9 billion times and win in a landslide.) What does being an All-Star even mean? Does it, in fact, mean anything at all?
Things get even more confusing when the coaches select the reserves. Because, it’s assumed, those players are being picked on merit. And, without fail, every year there’s a starter or three whose numbers are inferior to a guy that’s left off the team entirely. Is this fair? Does this make sense?
Let’s agree to agree on two things: Number one, the All-Star game is an exhibition game strictly meant to entertain. That’s all. It’s more of a popularity contest than a performance-based accolade. Which leads us to number two. If you want to show how great a player is, cite how many times they’ve been All-NBA. Sure, there’s an element of popularity in that as well, but it means a hell of a lot more than an All-Star selection. (And an aside—if we ARE going to continue to use “All-Star” as an adjective, can there PLEASE be a statute of limitations? Jamaal Magloire, for example, should NEVER be referred to as “All-Star center Jamaal Magloire” anymore.)
It’s incredible how liberating those two little changes could be for All-Star weekend. Once you stop worrying about legacies and reputations, and start worrying more about how to make the game as entertaining as possible, isn’t it easier? Of course you take Shaq as the backup center in the East. Allen Iverson is a lock out West. Jason Kidd and Steve Nash get perennial invites. And never again do you see guys like Antonio Davis or (sorry) Jamaal Magloire on an All-Star roster.
Not to mention it would be a chance to inject the rosters with some fresh blood. The following 10 players—five from each conference—have played five seasons or more without ever being named to an All-Star team. Each of them deserves a chance on the big stage, for different reasons. Let’s see it happen.
EAST
ANDRE MILLER, Sixers — The classic All-Star point guard, capable of setting up everyone and just staying the hell out of the way. Why complicate things? It’s an exhibition game. If you’re going to have a home-run hitting contest, you don’t make the hitters face Johan Santana. Dre would enhance the All-Star experience for everyone else while fitting in just fine himself. Isn’t that what it’s all about?
JAMAL CRAWFORD, Knicks — If anyone was born to play in an All-Star game, it’s Jamal Crawford. Circus shots, check. Unspeakably filthy handle, check. Unlimited range, check. Dunk contest hops, check. He can even break off the “toss the ball off the backboard to myself” self-oop, and has done it in real, live NBA games. He’s a natural.
TAYSHAUN PRINCE, Pistons — While defense might win championships, it doesn’t generally go to All-Star games (Dikembe Mutombo and Theo Ratliff excepted, but those guys only went because the East needed SOMEONE to play center). That said, Prince not only has some offensive skills, he’d be the perfect rabbit for a greyhound like Kobe Bryant. You don’t think Kobe would play 10 times harder against someone like Prince? Then you don’t know Kobe.
GERALD WALLACE, Bobcats — Seems to me like Gerald Wallace is one of those guys who would turn his game up to 11 in an All-Star setting. You know how Allen Iverson always says that he plays like each game might be his last? Wallace is one of those guys who plays like he WANTS every game to be his last.
EDDY CURRY, Knicks — Yes, I understand that if two Knicks made the All-Star team, the apocalypse would immediately follow. But look at what Eddy Curry brings to the table: He’s a dunk-happy offensive force who either can’t or won’t play a lick of defense. You know what that says to me? ALL-STAR. I’m sure the Western Conference centers would agree.
WEST
MIKE BIBBY, Kings — Mike Bibby seems destined to wind up as his generation’s Rod Strickland—the guy you look back on after his career’s up and say ‘he was NEVER an All-Star?’ A victim of some bad teams, bad injuries (although in the four seasons before this one he missed just two games) and a deep point guard pool out West, it seems unfair that a guy with Bibby’s bona fides (killer in the clutch since his days at Arizona, money shooter when it matters) can’t get some February love.
STEPHEN JACKSON, Warriors — Who wouldn’t want to see Stack Jack at All-Star? He’s gonna be there for the parties anyway, may as well let him play in the game, too. Dude’s a winner, a loose cannon, and would be a hit at the interview sessions. Not to mention he’d fit perfectly in the fast-breaking All-Star format.
TRAVIS OUTLAW, Blazers — In just his fifth NBA season, the Blazers sixth man has only started 14 games in his career, none this year. Yet he’s proven himself as a game-winner and superfreak athlete. He doesn’t want to enter the dunk contest? That’s fine—get him in the game.
LAMAR ODOM, Lakers — All-Star games were made for guys like Lamar Odom. A point guard in a power forward’s body, Odom could handle the rock, shoot treys, do all the things that would get him benched in L.A. Remember when he was supposed to be the next Magic? This is where you’d get to see that. (Alternate choice for the same reasons, Al Harrington.)
MARCUS CAMBY, Nuggets — I could have SWORN Marcus Camby was an All-Star once. It’s absolutely inconceivable to me that a guy like, yes, Jamaal Magloire could have been an All-Star and Marcus freaking Camby hasn’t. The guy barely gets plays run for him, he’s the only Nugget that cares about playing defense, and he accidentally bloodied his own coach once while trying to punch out Danny Ferry. Get this guy a ticket to New Orleans!
45 Responses to “Hey Now, You’re an All-Star. Um, So What?”
Jan.22 at 4:08 pm
Bryan says:
Interesting.
Jan.22 at 4:08 pm
mutoni says:
you spelled ’should’ wrong!!! (wait, where am i?)
Jan.22 at 4:23 pm
TADOne says:
Great Eddy Curry explanation.
Jan.22 at 4:24 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
way to pump this piece out, Russ. Did you already have this planned or did it really just come out of the comments earlier in your game notes? Can’t wait to read.
Jan.22 at 4:25 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
It kind of just happened.
Jan.22 at 4:25 pm
Bryan says:
Camby deserves it for real I mean if dudes are remembered by these accolades even if they’re meaningless in real life, Camby deserves to be remembered as an all-star at least once.Like you said if Magloire has been one jesus…
Jan.22 at 4:27 pm
TADOne says:
Watch Camby get voted on and then sprain an ankle.
Jan.22 at 4:42 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
I’d be ridicuously happy if I got to see Jax voted in. I’d be happy watching him play basketball anytime and anywhere, but amongst all of the stars when personalities are meant to shine? Perfect fit. Ditto on Camby, I can’t quite believe he has never been there before. I’m just happy Lamar shaved the big star off of his head, but it would be nice to see someone other than Kobe on the team since Bynum’s knee decided to ruin that for me. Wallace and Crawford are perfect choices, at least to make the game more entertaining. Although the whole weekend has a lot of filler surrounding the game it is still my absolute favorite weekend of the year, with the exception of March Madness.
Jan.22 at 4:42 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
I should have summed up the whole piece like this: If you’re not an All-Star, it doesn’t mean you’re a bad player. It just means no one likes you.
Jan.22 at 4:44 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Oh, and just for the record, All-Stars from the ‘96 Draft class (besides the obvious) include Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Antoine Walker, Peja Stojakovic, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and Ben Wallace (who wasn’t even drafted). But not Marcus Camby. Yep, makes sense to me.
Jan.22 at 4:49 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
And, the whole all-star statute of limitations thing is on-point. The same goes for championship rings. It kills me to think of AI or KG going ringless while a Matt Bonner or Mark Madsen will have a ring and all of the memories that go along with it(I’m sure there are many more who would bother me more than those two, but these are the guys who immediately came to mind). I know it is not as if that their lack of a ring will ever take away from their careers, but it still bothers me.
Jan.22 at 4:52 pm
je says:
agreed on the statute of limitations. call it the tyrone hill rule. co-sign on lamar - though its probably for the best that he stopped with the shaved star on his head asg campaign
Jan.22 at 4:54 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Wally Szczerbiak. Jamaal Magloire. Mehmet Okur. All former All-Stars. The more I look back, the more amazed I am at how overlooked Camby has been. Here’s a guy who plays the right way, does all the dirty work and never complains (the last season he DIDN’T average over three blocks per game was ‘03-04), should be the FIRST guy coaches point to as someone to look up to–and he can’t get ONE lousy All-Star appearance. No wonder why American basketball is going straight to hell.
Jan.22 at 4:55 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Don’t even get me started on rings. We’ll be here ’til June.
Jan.22 at 4:56 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Bonus trivia question. The ‘97 Draft class has only produced THREE All-Stars. Name them.
Jan.22 at 4:58 pm
what says:
Josh Smith
Jan.22 at 5:01 pm
what says:
Duncan Chauncey and T-Mac. Why is that surprising? Stephen Jackson is the only other good player from that draft anyway
Jan.22 at 5:01 pm
TADOne says:
Duncan, Billups, McGrady.
Jan.22 at 5:04 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Josh Smith hasn’t been in the L long enough. Four other guys who it pained me to leave off the list, however: Jason Terry, Jason Richardson, Tyson Chandler, David West. If Camby’s snubs are any indication, Chandler might still be patiently waiting in 2013.
Jan.22 at 5:06 pm
TADOne says:
Russ’s boy Tim Thomas was #7 in the draft. I half expected him to be on the list.
Jan.22 at 5:07 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
It’s just odd that people talk about how weak other draft classes were (like 2000), yet ‘97 usually gets a pass. Because of Duncan, I presume.
Jan.22 at 5:09 pm
Cam Jones says:
If makes anyone feel any better I voted for Camby on my ASG ballot. Yeah I picked him over Yao because I love Cambyman D-Fense for the past 4 years
Jan.22 at 5:11 pm
what says:
True, probably because 97 was kinda top heavy.. people tend to remember when the stars go at the top, or at least lottery. 2000’s best players were picked at 5, 16 and 43.
Jan.22 at 5:12 pm
what says:
5, 8, 16, 43
Jan.22 at 5:14 pm
TADOne says:
God, I’m just looking over this and my jaw dropped. That ‘97 Draft was AWFUL.
Jan.22 at 5:31 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Chris Gatling. Christian Laettner. Tyrone Hill. Tom Gugliotta. Vin Baker. Former All-Stars all.
Jan.22 at 5:32 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Rik Smits. Anthony Mason. Dana motherf*cking Barros.
Jan.22 at 5:37 pm
TADOne says:
Gugliotta was actually good for like…um….2 seasons.
Jan.22 at 6:30 pm
Bubba Chuck says:
Ya marcus camby
Jan.22 at 8:08 pm
whooo! says:
this is the year for camby. he woulda been an all-star by now had he still been in the east, but look at the big men who’ve been there since ‘03 and it’s hard to make a case for him to be in over those others. even the question marks, okur was having a HUGE year, with a winning team and hitting game winners.
Jan.22 at 8:09 pm
whooo! says:
should add k-mart to the list of suspect all-stars too. a product of jason kidd.
Jan.22 at 8:29 pm
Jer Boi says:
deron williams shoulda gotten in over okur lasy year. and i love the explanation for curry even though i don’t think he should ever ever be in an all star discussion. i also agree about camby..im surprised hes never been an all star
Jan.22 at 9:10 pm
Captain America says:
Lamar has underwhelmed. He has the tools for sure, but always seems to under perform. Kudos for Camby, Travis, and Miller (East). Where is Al Jefferson?
Jan.22 at 9:18 pm
Reggie Evans says:
Captain - Lamar has whelmed.
Jan.22 at 10:16 pm
Bryant Reeves says:
The only reason Camby hasn’t made it is because he plays in the West (the fact that he only played in 112 total games from the start of the 1998 to end of 2003 might have something to do with it too)
Jan.22 at 10:18 pm
Bryant Reeves says:
You must be joking about Travis Outlaw. I still laugh when I think of AD at the allstar game
Jan.22 at 10:19 pm
Bryant Reeves says:
above comment should read “started” not “played”
Jan.22 at 11:26 pm
Dacre says:
Whats the notion worth that coaches pick the bench based on players that they ‘coach’ against..? Sure some of the reserves over the years may not light up stat columns nightly, but in terms of who stands out in the coachs mind when teams come a-visiting, it would make sense that they are picking players that ‘impact’ on outcomes generally…. Thats why Knicks players dont make it?!
Jan.22 at 11:27 pm
Dacre says:
Crocodile Kaman.
Jan.23 at 4:47 am
Hisham says:
I remember when steve francis became an allstar and kept fumbling away stupid attempts at streetball moves. I imagine if Jamal Crawford would become an allstar the same would happen. He’d pull off one or two cool moves hopefully without traveling, brick all his threes and nate robinson all his dunk attempts including turnovers off bad passes to himself off the backboard.
Jan.23 at 7:56 am
maio says:
Dana Barros was Da Bomb for that one season. There should be a game International vs. USA. That would add spice and wouldn’t be as lopsided anymore.
Jan.23 at 12:47 pm
Paps says:
Camby’s maybe an allstar this year but he was not an allstar in the past because he wasn’t that great. He was a great shot blocker but that’s about it. He was a Raptor and didn’t have good stats, than a Knick and still didn’t have the stats. Look who was ahead of him then, Shaq, Zo, JO all better players plus Antonio Davis and Maglore had crazy years when they were selected.
Jan.23 at 2:35 pm
Jimmy2k8 says:
New blood is a must. I hate people getting into the allstar simply because of the accomplishments they did 5 years ago. Jose Calderon should be an allstar. Best point guard in the East by Far and is rated 3rd best point guard in the leauge. But isnted its a struggling Jason Kidd there. Complete Horse Cawk. But on the bright side Jamario Moon is rocking it. www.jamariomoonshine.com
Jan.23 at 4:50 pm
Nguni says:
struggling Jason Kidd???
Jan.24 at 12:53 am
Timmyd says:
I’m not so sure if Jason Kidd is “struggling”, but I do think that Billups should start over him and he should be back-up, but as long as they are both there I guess thats all that counts….But really, do people even care about the All-Star game like they used to? I say this because I remember a few years ago guys like Yao, Kobe, A.I, Shaq, Mcgrady, Duncan and any other player that has been a staple at the All-Star games would get like 2 million+ votes a piece and this year it seems like the only ones that will even reach 2 million is Yao (because of the China votes) and K.G (riding off the Boston hype). I guess some people just don’t vote anymore cause they figure its out of their hands, that or they don’t care. I don’t know, just a thought.