NBA All-Star Game: Biggest snubs of 2015

By Daniel Tran | Feb 5, 2015

Feb 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Western Conference center Dwight Howard (12) of the Houston Rockets dunks the ball against Eastern Conference guard Joe Johnson (7) of the Brooklyn Nets during the 2014 NBA All-Star Game at the Smoothie King Center. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /

5 of 6

Jan 16, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Orlando Magic center Nikola Vucevic (9) looks back against the Memphis Grizzlies during the second quarter at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Nikola Vucevic, Orlando Magic

Sometimes, when a player is having a fantastic year on a club that is bound for the bottom of the barrel in the NBA, they get overlooked through no fault of their own. Nikola Vucevic is a victim of the horrific season the Orlando Magic are having.

It is such poor form to judge an individual on the kind of season his team is having because the player is still matching up against the same players that other all-stars are facing. It is even worse when he is still putting up equal, if not, at times, better numbers than his peers. It is not like Vucevic is getting his numbers against college athletes. He is still getting all-star numbers against NBA competition.

Vucevic is averaging 19.6 points (19^th in the NBA) and 11.3 rebounds (seventh in the NBA) per game. He is also scoring the ball efficiently, making 53.5 percent of his shots, good for 11^th best in the league. If that is not enough, Vucevic ranks 13^th in the NBA in terms of Player Efficiency Rating at 22.2, ahead Eastern Conference All-Stars Pau Gasol and Al Horford.

Though Vucevic is playing for a bad team, it does not mean that he should be judged and denied an opportunity to play in the All-Star Game because of it. Based on his numbers, he is doing everything he can to help the Magic win.

Next: Kyle Korver

Home/NBA