Let’s face it, the NBA All-Star voting process is a popularity contest. It’s the reason why a player like Kobe Bryant, a league legend but now past his best, is likely to make the starting lineup despite having little success on the court this season. About the only way some of the players who deserve to be there get picked to go to the game through the head coaches of the league as a reserve.
Every year there are snubs, and with while the voting for starters at least will have closed by the time you read this, will Nikola Vucevic of the Orlando Magic be one of the snubs this season?
In some ways, you could argue Vucevic was a snub last season as well. He’s a double-double machine, he just does it on a team that the average NBA fan pays little attention to. While they are getting better, the Magic are still pretty bad in the grand scheme of things, and so a lot of what he does goes unnoticed.
What would have really helped his cause, however, is the series of highlight plays he’s seemed to churn out with exciting regularity recently. His emphatic put down on Pau Gasol of the Chicago Bulls seeming to stick out more than the others.
But if he’s playing this good, then why would making the All-Star team as a reserve be a problem? Well, a couple of seasons back they changed the rules so that each star-studded team was to have two backcourt players and three frontcourt players to round out their starters. In the past, it was two guards, two forwards and a center.
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Going up against better known centers is hard enough for Vuc, without throwing in the added toughness of having to go up against all frontcourt players in the league too. It makes the game more exciting and shows how times are changing, but Vucevic is one of the players the change has affected.
But why are we even talking about Vucevic anyway, what has he done to warrant being considered a snub if he doesn’t make it? Well, the big man has turned into a more complete two-way player this season. He’s always been able to score, rebound and even show a nice passing touch on the offensive end, but it was protecting the rim that was an issue.
That’s still the case, but he has shown signs of improvement. Sadly though, being a better defender, something Orlando desperately needs him to be, isn’t going to get him in the All-Star Game.
There are clearer indications of his dominance on the court, however. His player efficiency rating (league average is 15) is an extremely healthy 21.4 and shows how important he is to this team. In fact, it puts him 25th in the league in PER, and while that may not seem like the highest number, it is ahead of the likes of Carmelo Anthony, Klay Thompson and Mike Conley.
It’s a safe bet to assume all three have a better chance snagging an All-Star berth, they’re more well-known players on winning teams, but it’s proof Vucevic is holding it down for the Magic. It goes without saying, but that PER is the highest on the Orlando team and further proof that he is their leading man right now.
Looking at more tradition stats, the big Montenegrin is again averaging a double-double this year. His 18.8 points is easily a career high (previous best 14.2) while the 11 rebounds a night matches his career high. Orlando are not a great offensive team, but Vucevic has carried them from the inside with his slams, put backs and a shooting game that doesn’t get the credit it deserves.
He’s seventh in the league among centers in rebounding, and fourth in scoring. He’s even ninth among centers in assists, proving that the ball doesn’t just stick with him down low. He can play a passing and moving game when combined with his nimble footwork.
If pure centers were still considered, he might have a real shot here. He’s a top ten player in the three statistical categories that are most important, while being his team’s most influential player.
I understand that you have to reward winning, but there’s a lot to be said for having the right attitude to continue to play to a high level when your team is poor and you know you’re unlikely to make the playoffs. That’s Vucevic, consistent and regularly playing at a high level.
About the only thing you could criticize him for is the fact he’s a little injury prone, but to date that hasn’t been a massive problem this year.
I get why he won’t make the big exhibition game in New York. His game isn’t sexy, nor is his game, but he produces consistently. Players like this can make the All-Star game, they just usually have to do it for a much better team. Individuals who come to mind who don’t really fit into the big event are Luol Deng and Joakim Noah. Not overly flashy, just brilliant at what they do.
Vucevic would be the same, and it is kind of hard to argue that he wouldn’t deserve it.
While you might think it’s a pointless game that does nothing but signify the real race to the playoffs beginning once the weekend is over, for a player it can be huge. If Vuc was recognized, imagine the boost it would give him and Orlando.
To have an All-Star level player on their team, one who has been selected and actually represented the East, not just a player people say should have made the team, would be great for the team. It would be vindication that they have moved on from the Dwight Howard era and the future is promising. It’s too bad it’s not going to happen then, again, making Vucevic an All-Star snub.
Maybe next year, eh?