NBA SIMS LEAGUE
NSL Insider - 2023/2024 All-Star Snubsby Dylan, updated on Sunday, March 17 2024, 11:07 pm EST All Star Snubs  Apologies in advance for the number of times you will read the name Nikola Vucevic in this article, this isn’t a personal vendetta against the player or the voters that put him in the game however when talking about snubs and Vuce being in the ASG he’s going to be the common name used for “this player should have been in over Vucevic”. Karl Anthony Towns – KAT certainly had a case for being snubbed as an All Star this season, Towns the franchise leader of the Phoenix Suns has had a return to form year after several down years. Putting up averages of 24ppg, 12rpg on some of the most efficient shooting splits in the entire league shooting 57% from the field, 52% from 3 and 90% from the line. He’s in rare company with the likes of Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry in the 50/50/90 club of the NSL. Factor in the teams record though, they are currently 22-33 good for .400 on the season and have only recently found winning form in the past month. Factor in why he should have been an All Star over who was there though. Vucevic, averaging 8ppg and 8rpg and currently on the team that holds the worst record in NSL history with 3 wins and 51 losses (sorry Tim, you’re doing great attempting to turn this team around) was voted in over KAT. Onyeka Okongwu – One of the biggest reasons for OKCs success this season before the team hit the injury wall for what feels like the first time in 3+ years. Okongwu has been giving teams fits all season standing at only 6’10 and a wiry build has been a rebounding and putback menace provoking many GMs to recite the words “How is Okongwu outrebounding my bigs” many times this year. Having a career year and starting full time at Center for the first time in his career Okongwu is putting up averages of 17ppg, 13rpg on 74% from the field and 87% from the line. OKC have a winning record of 34-19 again ahead of the 3-51 Warriors with Vucevic and the 22-33 Phoenix Suns and Okongwu is a top 7 Center in the NSL. I think Okongwu was a real oversight to a lot of voters this season. Kawhi Leonard – I set the All-Star game up and moved all the players to the roster yet still didn’t take notice that the Klaw wasn’t selected. Not until I wrote this article did, I even realise it. Kawhi is having a career year shooting splits wise also joining the 50/50/90 club while giving it his all on the other end in the top 20 for steals per game. You could argue that Kawhi’s non selection came down to his teams record who are currently 7th with a 28-26 record however Kawhi’s teammate Damian Lillard was selected to the game. I’d have to go with Kawhi in over Kristaps Porzingis here. Andre Drummond – Usually a staple of the NSL All Star game constantly one of the top big men in the league. No different to this season Drummond averaging 15ppg, 17rpg, and 3.9 stocks on 69% from the field. League leader in 2nd chance points, offensive rebounds, and defensive rebounds and on the best record in the league Lakers. Once again you can point to Drummonds production as a reason his teams do so well, he’s a force against every team and no one has been able to beat him matchup wise. I genuinely have no case to write as to why he missed the All-Star game. Personally, I believe he should have started the All-Star game over the rookie sensation Wem banana which the lights proved too bright for. Scottie Barnes – Scottie is the heart and soul of the 4th placed 34 win and 20 loss Cavs. On the season Scottie is averaging 19ppg, 7rpg and 4apg to go along with 46% from the field and 51% from 3. I was trying to look for who I’d replace Scottie with in the game and have to again go with his teammate forward Kristaps Porzingis. I feel that Scotties output has been on a different level to that of Porzingis with Scottie always having the matchup of the opposing teams best offensive threat and being in my opinion the biggest reason for Cleveland’s success on the year. When coming up with this snub list I had to cross reference who I could take out of the game to find candidates that could replace them. The rookie Centers in the East must come into some question but looking at the player rankings both Wemby and Chet have been the best centers in the Eastern conference. Most of this list is compiled with Western Conference centers due to the fact that the massive outlier in the All-Star game Vucevic being a center from the Western conference.  Be keen to read in the comments about anyone else you feel may have missed out and had a case for All Star. |
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