He’s been good, but not that good

I’d sooner vote for Steven Adams to become the next Prime Minister of our fair country than I would to see him feature in this year’s NBA All Star game. The All Star game should be for the best players in the league on the year and, simply put, the big Kiwi isn’t one of them.

To this point in the season, Adams is have a career year scoring an average of just over 12 points to go with about eight rebounds across roughly 30 minutes per game, with a 104 defensive rating and a 117 offensive rating

While he’s on the improve, his statistics don’t match up to the elite front-court players in the business. Take New Orleans Pelicans big man Anthony Davis for example. This year Davis has flourished, averaging about 30 points and 12 rebounds across 37 minutes per game, with defensive and offensive ratings of 100 and 109, respectively.

Or Minnesota youngster Karl-anthony Towns, who is averaging a shade under 22 points and 12 rebounds, as well as three assists and 31 per cent shooting from the three-point line across 36 minutes per game - showing he can really do it all on the basketball court. These are All Star-level statistics. You also have to consider with the frontcourt category consisting of small forwards, power forwards and centres, Adams falls into the same group as the likes of former finals MVP and two-time defensive player of the year Kawhi Leonard, and former MVP Kevin Durant.

With three spots up for grabs in the starting frontcourt, and seven bench spots which can be filled by players in any position, Adams doesn’t stand out among the crowd.

Adams’ best chance to get a call up to the exhibition would be as a starter, as fan votes count for 50 per cent in those positions, with player and media voting making up the other 50 per cent.

Granted, he would definitely be a better pick to be an All Star than Golden State centre Zaza Pachulia, averaging five points, six rebounds and two assists across 18 minutes per game, who had the second-most frontcourt votes when the first fan voting returns were released last week.

There’s been a big push from a number of outlets in New Zealand to get Kiwis to vote for Adams, but if you were choosing the team, would you want Adams? And remember, the All Star game isn’t usually about defence, which is where Adams is at his best. He’d be lost among the stars scoring around him.

When it comes down to it, the All Star game should be viewed as a reward for those who have helped their team stand out, and unfortunately for the big Kiwi, he doesn’t fall into this group.

Maybe he will in the future, but not this year.