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NBA: 25 Least-Deserving NBA All-Stars

By Phil Watson

February 15, 2015; New York, NY, USA; General view of the opening tipoff as Eastern Conference forward Pau Gasol of the Chicago Bulls (16) and Western Conference center Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies (33) during the first quarter of the 2015 NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden.Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
February 15, 2015; New York, NY, USA; General view of the opening tipoff as Eastern Conference forward Pau Gasol of the Chicago Bulls (16) and Western Conference center Marc Gasol of the Memphis Grizzlies (33) during the first quarter of the 2015 NBA All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden.Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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PONTIAC, MI – CIRCA 1987: Isiah Thomas #11 of the Detroit Pistons looks on with head coach Chuck Daly whiles there’s a break in the action during an NBA basketball game circa 1987 at The Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan . Thomas played for the Pistons from 1981-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
PONTIAC, MI – CIRCA 1987: Isiah Thomas #11 of the Detroit Pistons looks on with head coach Chuck Daly whiles there’s a break in the action during an NBA basketball game circa 1987 at The Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Michigan . Thomas played for the Pistons from 1981-94. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

25. Isiah Thomas, 1991

How Chosen: Fan voting

Isiah Thomas easily beat out teammate Joe Dumars of the Detroit Pistons for the second starting spot alongside Michael Jordan in the Eastern Conference backcourt as the Bad Boys rode into the 1990-91 season as two-time defending NBA champions.

The Pistons were having a solid season, battling the Boston Celtics and Chicago Bulls for the top spot in the East with a 34-15 record

But Thomas was having just an OK campaign by his standards—16 points and 9.2 assists per game on .443/.255/.786 shooting at the break and he had missed 10 games because of injuries.

Other guards in the East having seasons worthy of consideration were Sherman Douglas of the Miami Heat, Mark Jackson of the New York Knicks, Scott Skiles of the Orlando Magic and Micheal Williams of the Indiana Pacers.

But it was Williams’ teammate, Reggie Miller—an All-Star the season prior—who was putting up 22.4 points and four assists per game on a shooting line of .513/.331/.913, even as the Pacers struggled to a 19-27 record at the break.

Thomas pulled out of the game at the Charlotte Coliseum late because of an injury and was not replaced on the roster. The East went on to a 116-114 victory.

It was Thomas’ 10th All-Star selection of the 12 he would garner in his 13-year Hall of Fame career.

Next: Riding A Three-Peat Wave