Anthony Davis, the Los Angeles Lakers star forward, was snubbed from the 2021 NBA All–Star game, much to the dismay of many fans and pundits alike. Davis, who is undoubtedly one of the best players in the Western Conference, earned a place on the team with his stellar performance this season.
The story of Anthony Davis and his All–Star selection for the 2020 season was an interesting one. He started the season off with a bang. Averaging 27.4 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 2.1 blocks per game, Davis was an MVP–caliber player in the opening 25 games of the season.
This 12–game stretch in November and December saw Davis amass 32.7 points and 13.9 rebounds per game on an impressive 62.6% shooting, including a 55–point game. However, Davis missed a total of 24 games due to injury, leaving the coaches to decide between his elite–level production and the number of games played.
Ultimately, the coaches decided that he had missed too many games to be eligible for the All–Star selection.
#Lakers superstar Anthony Davis has been snubbed from the NBA's All-Star game.
He had a case to be a starter, and now doesn't even make it in as a reserve.
The disrespect.
— Lakers 24/8 – Lakers248.com (@thelakers248) February 3, 2023
The decision to exclude Davis has left many baffled as they believed he should have been included in the All–Star team. Zion Williamson, who was named a starter in the West, has only played in 29 games this season which is the same number of games Davis has played in. This makes Davis‘ exclusion even more puzzling.
Davis was not left completely empty–handed, however, as he remains one of the top contenders for a potential injury replacement. Should any of the current All–Star players be injured, Davis is in a prime position to be chosen as their replacement.
In the meantime, the break from the All–Star festivities will provide him with an opportunity to be fully healed and prepared for the second half of the playoff push.
The forward will have the chance to make the All–Star team as an injury replacement, however, it does not detract from the fact that he has been disrespected by the league. Many will be hoping that this snub will only motivate him to come back even stronger and prove that he deserves to be on the All–Star team.
