2020 All-Star Reserve Reactions

A winning team was important to making this year's All-Star squads.

Ahem. *Tap tap tap*

Testing, 1, 2, 1, 2.

The All-Star game may have an impact on player legacy, but it is ultimately a worthless selection with less significance than an All-NBA selection.

From the perspective of the player, I could understand why this way of thinking is sacrilege. It's still an acknowledgement of one's standout performances, it's still a title on the career resume, financial incentives are on the line, and so on. But at the end of the day, it is hardly a ranking of who has been most impactful to their team. It's All-Star weekend, heavy on the star.

This is all said with the understanding that the All-Star game itself has dwindled in meaning and effort for its players for years. But I think the league office is well aware of that, and is working to ameliorate the aimlessness of the game this year. The scoring has been altered to offer cash rewards for outscoring the other team each quarter. And the fourth quarter will feature an Elam ending of 24 points from the highest score to honor Kobe Bryant. This year's contest will be ceremonious no matter what.

We learned last week about this year's All-Star starters.

East: Trae Young, Kemba Walker, Pascal Siakam, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetoukounmpo

West: James Harden, Luka Doncic, Kawhi Leonard, LeBron James, Anthony Davis

Now, we know the All-Star reserves. And for the most part, I agree that they represent some of the best talent of the league. But there are two obvious snubs, one from each conference, that ultimately didn't make it because of their team's record as opposed to their individual accolades.

East

Jimmy Butler: This choice was obvious. The leader of the East's 3-seed is putting up All-Star level numbers.

Jayson Tatum: Tatum is the offensive and defensive spark plug for the No. 4 team in the East.

Ben Simmons: Simmons was vying for a starting spot, but Trae Young's numbers were simply too gaudy to ignore.

Kyle Lowry: Lowry will one day get the respect he deserves. But maybe he has such respect that we keep saying he deserves respect?

Bam Adebayo: Debating who was better between Adebayo vs. Andre Drummond was an actual thing for me and my Detroit sports friends. No longer.

Khris Middleton: Middleton's don't pop, but he's putting up 20-6-4 in less than 29 minutes. I mean ...

Domantas Sabonis: Somehow, the Pacers were 30-17 without Victor Oladipo. Sabonis has been the tentpole player for them, averaging 18-13-5 and doing his best job to run Myles Turner out of town.

Snub: Bradley Beal

I think Beal is an odd man out because of the Wizards' abysmal record. I would argue that the team's focal point, who is posting 29-6-4, is the only thing keeping Washington's grab bag roster relevant. He has the All-Star stats, but it's a tough question as to who from the above could be replaced. The Pacers need to have 1 All-Star. Lowry is the point guard for a team that's battled injuries. Beal was the casualty of that.

West

Rudy Gobert: I believe Gobert should have been a starter. The DPOY frontrunner, I assume, was relegated to the reserves because of the fan vote.

Donovan Mitchell: Mitchell hit his stride with Mike Conley out of the lineup due to injury. He is the offensive mastermind running the 4-seed Jazz.

Damian Lillard: Logo Lillard was an obvious choice. The Trailblazers aren't doing much, and they wouldn't even be there without Lillard's All-Star play.

Nikola Jokic: Jokic also had an argument to start over Kawhi, but his slow start to the season did him in. Jokic has been an elite conductor for the No. 3 Nuggets.

Russell Westbrook: The Rockets are underachieving as the 6-seed, but Westbrook is still posting a ridiculous 26-8-7 and almost 2 steals.

Brandon Ingram: It remains to be seen how Ingram will regress statistically with Zion in the lineup. But in his absence, Ingram was an offensive virtuoso who kept the Pelicans, despite their poor record, within striking range of the playoffs.

Chris Paul: Paul has still got it, and shame on anyone who thought otherwise! The Thunder are a force in the West, and Paul is big reason why. His mentorship to SGA has made him especially likable, too.

Snub: Devin Booker

Booker was snubbed, and likely should be in instead of either Paul or Westbrook form the reserves. Again, Booker is a victim of being on a bad team. He is shooting over 50%, and 37% from 3-point land, while averaging 27-6-4. His defense could improve, but if you've been on the Suns for 4 years you wouldn't play defense either. Booker is only 23 and will have his time, but it should've started this year.