DeMarcus Cousins: The Deserving All-Star

When the 2015 All-Star Reserves were announced on Thursday, there was a sense of injustice that spread across the Sacramento Kings’ fan base: DeMarcus Cousins wasn’t listed as one of the names on the Western All-Stars Reserves’ list.

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There was an outcry over the players who were picked – most notably, Kevin Durant and Tim Duncan. Durant has missed half of the games played so far due to injury, while Duncan’s pick seemed like a legacy pick to many.

Thankfully, NBA Commissioner Adam Silver chose Cousins as the replacement for Los Angeles Lakers’ guard Kobe Bryant, who will be missing the All-Star Game due to injury.

Justice was finally served.

However, many feel as though Cousins doesn’t deserve an All-Star spot due to the team’s current record. The other big-name snub was Damian Lillard – the name many feel should have been the rightful replacement.

Averaging 23.7 points and 12.4 rebounds per game, Cousins would have been the only player in NBA history to average at least 23 points and 12 rebounds per game to not be an All-Star. To put that into relative terms, Cousins is ranked sixth in points per game, third in rebounds per game, first in defensive rebounds per game, and second in free throws made and attempted per game.

He has 27 double-doubles this season (tied for third most in the league), and has done so in 33 games – the least number of games within the top 15 for double-double leaders.

Looking at those numbers now, could you realistically sit out one of the best statistical performers in the league from the All-Star Game?

The Sacramento Kings’ dismal record of 17-29 is another reason why many feel that DeMarcus Cousins doesn’t deserve an All-Star berth. His team is the worst team with an All-Star reserve (I have excluded the starters from this because fans vote for the starters, whereas the coaches picked the reserves.

There is merit to the argument that poorly-performing teams shouldn’t have representatives in the All-Star Game, however, there isn’t a precedent for this.

Last season, we saw Anthony Davis get picked as the replacement for Kobe Bryant in the All-Star Game – his team was 19-26 at the end of January. In the 2012-13 season, Kyrie Irving was selected as an All-Star reserve by the coaches despite the Cleveland Cavaliers holding a 13-33 record during the announcement.

Finally, in 2012, Deron Williams was an All-Star reserve playing for the 7-15 New Jersey Nets (it was a lockout shortened season).

The All-Star Game is often seen as an exhibition for the fans. The best-performing players are recognized and rewarded for their accomplishments during the season, and team records are taken into account, but they rarely play a big role in the final say.

At the end of the day, it wasn’t a case of Damian Lillard vs DeMarcus Cousins. Both were deserving of being All-Stars, and it’s a shame that after participating in all five All-Star Weekend events last season, Lillard will be watching from the sidelines this time round. Any of the two would have been considered “snubs”, and both would have done enough to make the team.

Congratulations, DeMarcus Cousins – you’re a deserving All-Star.

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Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins – The Deserving All-Star

By Greg Chin | Feb 1, 2015

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