At the time of writing this, the NBA just announced their All-Star reserves for each conference. Some players on that list were deserving of an All-Star selection without a doubt, but just like every year, there were some players who deserved the nod, but were left off the list. I’m not sure exactly how to fix this issue, in general, unless they expand the list to 15 players per conference, but even then I think that there will always be players that don’t quite make the cut. With that in mind, I want to talk about who I think are the biggest snubs from the Eastern Conference.
Bam Adebayo
For those of you who know me personally, this pick should be a surprise to you. I am very much a fan of Bam’s game, and so should you. I’ll be upfront and admit my Kentucky bias, as I can’t name one player that I dislike that went to that school, but Bam Adebayo is clearly one of the top 30 players in the league. On the year, he’s averaged 19.6 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists. He has very much carried the load for this Miami Heat team while Jimmy Butler and Tyler Herro have missed time for different reasons. After his All-Star selection last year, it was almost assumed going into this year that he would be selected again. I mean, he’s practically averaging the same stats as last year, but four more points per game. The East, just like the West, have had a lot of players that have played at an All-Star level this year, and it really is unfortunate that a player like Bam had to be left off the list, after such a good statistical season.
Khris Middleton
Again, for those who know me personally, you would know that I have a bias against Middleton, because of how devastating he is when he plays the Boston Celtics. Middleton essentially becomes Michael Jordan, and completelytakes over the game. It should say something when I am more afraid to play Middleton than I am a 2x MVP in the Greek Freak. Just the same as Bam, Middleton was an All-Star last year, and it doesn’t really make a lot of sense why he didn’t get the same recognition this year. Averaging basically 21/6/6, while shooting 50% from the field and 43% from deep is quite a good stat line if I do say so myself. Being the second star to Greek Freak may be what Middleton is known for, but that doesn’t make him any less lethal on the basketball court.
Jimmy Butler
It should go without saying that last year, in the Finals, the only reason that the Heat were able to take two games off of the Los Angeles Lakers was Jimmy Butler’s efforts on the floor. Yes, Bam Adebayo played well, same with Tyler Herro, Duncan Robinson, and plenty of others, but the team only went as far as Jimmy Butler willed it to. This season has been no different. Butler has missed time this year, and the Heat have suffered for it, however at the time of writing this, the Heat are now sitting at 16-17, and are currently the 7th seed in the East. Butler has averaged 20.1 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 7.8 assists on the year, with the last couple of games really demonstrating that Butler can do it all on the court. He’s the lead of this team offensively and defensively, and he’s proven time and time again that he should be viewed as a top 25 player in the league.
Round The Game 
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