Morant’s All-star omission isn’t a snub
Ja Morant’s feelings about the NBA All-star Game changed the deeper the Grizzlies got into February
The second-year point guard went from agreeing with superstars over whether the game should be held to saying he played well enough to be in the conversation for a reserve spot. When he wasn’t selected on Tuesday, his oneword “damn” tweet said enough to speak for himself and fans.
It’s understandable Morant wanted the honor. But let’s take a look why his case had trouble stacking up.
There were more deserving players
If Morant was snubbed, you have to argue somebody should be taken off. The guards ahead of Morant earned it.
Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz) and Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers) could’ve been starters. Full disclosure, I voted for Lillard as a starter on my media ballot and even Morant said Lillard should’ve been voted a starter.
Chris Paul has the Phoenix Suns as a top-4 seed in the West. There’s no argument to name Morant above those three because their résumés are solid.
Did Morant’s injury play a role?
Perhaps. I think if he averages 19.1 points and 7.9 assists in 23-24 games instead of 19, his case would be stronger. But I also think the Grizzlies would need a few more wins, too.
A healthy Morant - let’s assume he plays five or six more games - probably leads to two or three more wins. Instead of being 13-14, the Grizzlies would be 1512 or 16-11, which would have them top 8 in the Western Conference instead of
currently 10th.
So let’s leave this as maybe. Again, it’s not what Morant could’ve done, it’s what others did at a higher level.
Can Morant be an injury replacement?
Sure, but there’s other candidates ahead of him. Suns guard Devin Booker deserves praise alongside Paul for the team’s success and Booker was an Allstar last season.
Jazz guard Mike Conley is the sentimental favorite because he’s never made been an All-star. He’s second in the NBA in plus/minus and like Mitchell and Rudy Gobert, he’s played a role in the Jazz owning the NBA’S best record
With Lakers forward Anthony Davis out with injury, it’s likely Booker gets the call first like he did last season. So Morant’s a longshot here, too.
An All-star berth will be sweeter next year
Making the team is an honor but this might be the least fun All-star Game ever. The league’s superstars were ambivalent on it and all of the usual Allstar weekend events will be held in one day on March 7 in Atlanta due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As someone who attended last year’s All-star Weekend in Chicago, part of being there is the atmosphere. It’s one big weekend party and each night is the icing on a cake celebrating the league’s best and brightest.
Morant got a taste last year in the Rising Stars Challenge.
After the game, he said he didn’t want to stick around for the full weekend because he’d only do it when he’s an All-star.
It would’ve been sad if his first Allstar game was a muted exhibition. But while he was disappointed, imagine how much better 2022 will be if he’s selected and gets to enjoy a proper Allstar weekend.