NBA: 25 Least-Deserving NBA All-Stars
By Phil Watson
15. Jrue Holiday, 2013
How Chosen: Reserve
The Philadelphia 76ers were coming off one of the rare No. 8 seed over a No. 1 seed playoff upsets when they opened the 2012-13 season, but the year was a disappointment.
That didn’t stop Eastern Conference coaches from selecting point guard Jrue Holiday from the 22-29 76ers as a reserve.
Holiday was having a strong season at the break, averaging 19 points, 8.9 assists and 4.2 rebounds on .451/.353/.775 shooting. He did, however, fade badly after the break and the 76ers missed the playoffs, coach Doug Collins was fired and the Sam Hinkie process began soon afterward, with Holiday being traded to the New Orleans Pelicans as part of that process.
Deron Williams of the Brooklyn Nets had been to the previous three All-Star games and was enjoying a bounce-back campaign in the club’s first season in the borough. At the break, Williams was averaging 16.7 points, 7.6 assists and 3.3 rebounds on .413/.347/.855 shooting for a team that was 31-22 and had rebounded nicely after the firing of coach Avery Johnson in late December.
Holiday finished with six points, two rebounds, two steals and an assist in 15 minutes during the East’s 143-138 loss at Houston’s Toyota Center.
But Holiday got the nod, the lone All-Star bid of his career to this point. Williams has not been back to an All-Star Game since 2012, either.
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