The NBA released its list of the 2021 NBA All-Star team reserves, coming five days after releasing the team’s starters.
Fans, current NBA players, and a media panel selected this year’s All-Star starters, headlined by team captain’s Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant and L.A. Lakers forward LeBron James.
All-Star team starters
The selection marks James’ 17th selection, good for 3rd all-time, behind only Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, with 19, and Kobe Bryant, with 18. It is also James’ 17th straight start in the All-Star game, the most all-time.
The other 4 Western Conference starters: Warriors guard Stephen Curry (7th selection), Mavericks guard Luka Doncic (2nd selection), Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard (5th selection), and Denver center Nikola Jokic (3rd selection).
Durant is a first-time captain and now an 11-time All-Star. He has now been selected as a starter for 3 different franchises.
The remaining starters from the Eastern Conference: Nets guard Kyrie Irving (7th selection), Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3rd selection), Milwaukee forward Giannis Antetokoumpo (5th selection), and 76ers center Joel Embiid (4th selection).
All-Star team reserves
On February 23rd, the All-Star team’s reserves were officially selected, filling out the 2021 All-Star team roster.
The teams feature 4 first-time selections and 4 second-time selections. The East in particular showcases the league’s young talents, with only one player with more than three career selections.
The Eastern Conference reserves: Nets guard James Harden (9th selection), Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (1st selection), Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (2nd selection), Bulls guard Zach LaVine (1st selection), Knicks forward Julius Randle (1st selection), 76ers guard Ben Simmons (3rd selection), and Magic center Nikola Vucevic (2nd selection).
The newly formed Nets trio were all selected as All-Stars. However, many expected Harden, the league-leader in assists, to start over Irving.
The Western Conference reserves: Pelicans forward Zion Williamson (1st selection), Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell (2nd selection), Jazz Rudy center Gobert (2nd selection), Clippers forward Paul George (7th selection), Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (6th selection), Suns guard Chris Paul (11th selection), and Suns guard Devin Booker (2nd selection).
Booker is replacing Lakers forward Anthony Davis, who will be out with an Achilles injury. He had emerged as this year’s clearest snub. Booker seemed to be having a clearly better season than his Suns teammate, Paul, who was selected outright.
Snubs and surprises
Every year, some players feel they should have been selected. Similarly, there always seem to be a few players that many feel are out of place on the All-Star roster.
This year, with the exception of the recently added Booker, it is hard to point to too many players that jump out as clear snubs. That being said, there will always be deserving players that somehow find ways to be left off of the team. That is no different in 2021.
Jazz guard Mike Conley was particularly unhappy with his failure to make the team. Conley has never been selected to the All-Star team. He told The Atheltic’s Tony Jones that he felt that “this is the year” to change that.
Conley again fell short. He was not even in the Western Conference backcourt’s top 10 in voting criteria. Said criteria are made up of 50% fan vote and 25% each player and media vote.
Though Conley’s stats are not particularly incredible, the Jazz own the league’s best record and are a clear threat to contend in the West.
Grizzlies guard, Ja Morant, ranked 6th in Western Conference backcourt voting, tied for the spot with Paul. Experience won out, however, as Morant failed to receive a bid. A high-ankle sprain kept Morant to only 19 games played this year. Combined with the Grizzlies’ under .500 record weakened Morant’s 2021 resume.
Heat combo of guard Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo were tied for 5th in Eastern Conference frontcourt voting. Randle, back in 7th, was somehow selected over both players. Despite a rocky start, the Heat now own a better record than the Knicks. Adebayo is averaging just under 20-10-5, and Butler is putting up 19-8-6. Both also bring high-intensity defense to the table, yet will watch this year’s All-Star game from home.
The Eastern Conference backcourt voting left Wizards guard Russell Westbrook and Hawks guard Trae Young out to dry. Both ranked ahead of Simmons, though neither was selected. Both the Hawks and Wizards, however, are far from a playoff bid at the moment. Their snubbing can likely be written off on lack of team success.
This year will mark the first season since 2014 that Westbrook will be left off of the All-Star roster. His near 20-10-10 averages are marred by a low shooting percentage, and an 11-18 team record.
Pacers forward Domantas Sabonis was a particularly harsh snub. The 24-year-old is having a breakout season. He is near the top of the league in countless advanced statistics, including leading the league in ground-covered on defense.
All said, Sabonis will be the first player in league history to average 20-10-5 and not make the All-Star team.
