OAKLAND, CA – JANUARY 18: Russell Westbrook #0 of the Oklahoma City Thunder complains about a call during their game against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on January 18, 2017 in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
NBABy Matt Clapp on

Well, Russell Westbrook may be the biggest NBA All-Star Game starting lineup snub of all-time.

Despite leading the NBA in scoring (30.6 points per game; nearly two full points better than anyone), leading the NBA in Player Efficiency rating (29.56), and averaging a triple-double (10.6 rebounds, 10.4 assists), the Oklahoma City Thunder guard is reportedly not among the five players starting on the Western Conference All-Star team.

https://twitter.com/jtylerconway/status/822225147214106625

Here’s more, from ESPN.Com:

Russell Westbrook is not among the Western Conference All-Star starters.

The star Oklahoma City Thunder guard was left out in the loaded West, with sources telling ESPN’s Chris Haynes that Golden State Warriors teammates Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets guard James Harden, San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard and New Orleans Pelicans center Anthony Davis got the nod as the conference’s starting five.

The East starters, sources said, are Cleveland Cavaliers teammates Kyrie Irving and LeBron James, Jimmy Butler of the Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks phenom Giannis Antetokounmpo and DeMar DeRozan of the Toronto Raptors.

And ESPN.Com’s explanation on how All-Star voting works:

Fans accounted for 50 percent of the vote to determine the starters. Current players and the media accounted for 25 percent each. Ballots consisted of two guards and three frontcourt players per conference.

Now, it’s not too shocking at the same time, given that it was Westbrook vs Steph Curry and James Harden for one of the backcourt spots in the voting process.

Curry is of course the back-to-back NBA MVP, and Harden’s production is (incredibly) pretty close to Westbrook’s: 28.9 points per game (2nd in NBA), 11.6 assists per game (1st in NBA), 8.3 rebounds per game. So, while Westbrook should absolutely be starting in this All-Star Game and probably any All-Star Game with the season he’s had, it’s not like the other choices were bad either.

Westbrook will of course still be selected to the game. And I’m guessing he will end up playing about as much as Curry and Harden in the game anyway. But, the idea that a player with this production is not starting in the All-Star Game is still a bit ridiculous.

[ESPN.Com]

About Matt Clapp

Matt is an editor at The Comeback. He attended Colorado State University, wishes he was Saved by the Bell's Zack Morris, and idolizes Larry David. And loves pizza and dogs because obviously.

He can be followed on Twitter at @Matt2Clapp (also @TheBlogfines for Cubs/MLB tweets and @DaBearNecess for Bears/NFL tweets), and can be reached by email at mclapp@thecomeback.com.

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