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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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AUBURN HILLS, MI – MARCH 26: Joe Dumars #4 of the Detroit Pistons drives the ball past Greg Anthony #2 of the Vancouver Grizzlies during the game on March 26, 1996 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The Pistons won 86-75. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI – MARCH 26: Joe Dumars #4 of the Detroit Pistons drives the ball past Greg Anthony #2 of the Vancouver Grizzlies during the game on March 26, 1996 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. The Pistons won 86-75. (Photo by Sporting News via Getty Images) /

5. Joe Dumars, 1995

How Chosen: Reserve

The Detroit Pistons were a last-place team at 17-29 when they rolled into the All-Star break in 1994-95, but Eastern Conference coaches decided the team needed a second representative besides rookie Grant Hill, who was voted in as a starter.

Dumars was having a solid first half at age 31, averaging 19.8 points and 5.1 assists on .431/.308/.806 shooting.

But there were other guards in the East who would have been more valid choices, including Kenny Anderson of the New Jersey Nets or the overlooked Mookie Blaylock of the Atlanta Hawks.

Blaylock had made his lone All-Star appearance in 1994 and responded with an even better campaign for the Hawks, who were 22-26 at the break.

He was averaging 16.2 points, 7.6 assists, 5.3 rebounds and 2.5 steals per game over the season’s unofficial first half.

Dumars scored 11 points with six assists and a steal, shooting 5-of-8 in his 21 minutes of the East’s 139-112 blowout loss at America West Arena in Phoenix.

It was the fifth of Dumars’ six All-Star nods over his 14-year Hall of Fame career.

Next: Another 1995 Question Mark