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NBA All-Star Game: Kyle Korver Deserves Selection

By Maxwell Ogden

Jan 30, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver (26) reacts after the Hawks take the lead against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Trail Blazers 105-99. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 30, 2015; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Hawks guard Kyle Korver (26) reacts after the Hawks take the lead against the Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Philips Arena. The Hawks defeated the Trail Blazers 105-99. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports /
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According to the official 2015 NBA All-Star Game Twitter feed, Atlanta Hawks wing Kyle Korver will replace injured Miami Heat shooting guard Dwyane Wade in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game. Wade’s currently battling a hamstring injury and thought it better to utilize the weekend for rest.

This marks the first All-Star Game selection of Korver’s career.

Deservedly so.

Korver’s basic statistics of 12.9 points, 4.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists and 3.1 3-point field goals won’t blow many people away. What is extraordinary, however, is Korver’s immense value to the Hawks and his all-time shooting pace.

Both deserve to be recognized.

According to Basketball-Reference.com, the Hawks have a net rating of plus-11.6 when Korver’s on the floor. When he isn’t, that number drops all the way to minus-1.2.

In other words, the 43-10 Hawks are an elite team when Korver’s on the floor and a below-average team when he isn’t.

Those are numbers, not opinion.

Individually, Korver leads the league in both 3-point field goals made and 3-point field goal percentage. Should he maintain that pace, he’d be the first player to lead the NBA in both categories since Darrell Griffith in 1982-83.

Korver, 33, has already made more 3-point field goals than Griffith in just 52 games played. In fact, the Hawks wing passed Griffith just 33 games into the 2014-15 season.

That isn’t even the most historic aspect of Korver’s season.

If he were to stop playing today, he’d set the NBA record for the most 3-point field goals made in a season in which a player shoots 50.0 percent or better from distance, per Basketball-Reference.com.

He’s already made 32 more than the No. 2 player on that list.

Korver’s true shooting percentage of .736 is on pace to be the highest of any player in NBA history, per Basketball-Reference.com. The other five players with a mark above .700 made a combined one 3-point field goal.

Perspective.

To round out this historic season, Korver is on pace to become the first member of 50-50-90 club. He’s currently shooting 51.6 percent from the field, 52.8 percent from beyond the arc and 92.0 percent from the free throw line.

Statistically speaking, Korver is putting forth the greatest shooting season in NBA history. To ignore that would be to ignore history.

Whether you expected to read this statement or not, it’s true: the 33-year-old Kyle Korver is deserving of this All-Star selection.

Next: Not every great season nets an MVP award. What are the best non-MVP seasons in NBA history?