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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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Basketball: Golden St. Warriors coach Don Nelson talking w. Latrell Sprewell #15 during game. (Photo by Sam Forencich/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images)
Basketball: Golden St. Warriors coach Don Nelson talking w. Latrell Sprewell #15 during game. (Photo by Sam Forencich/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images) /

4. Latrell Sprewell, 1995

How Chosen: Fan voting

The Golden State Warriors had fallen on hard times by 1994-95, posting a 14-31 record before the All-Star break.

Latrell Sprewell had been great for a Warriors team that made the playoffs the previous season, but had slipped in 1994-95.

But the fans voted him into the game along with Dan Majerle of the Phoenix Suns as the West’s starting backcourt, as Sprewell just edged out teammate Tim Hardaway by less than 8,000 votes.

Spree was averaging 21.3 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game on .416/.249/.760 shooting at the break.

The West was chock full of guards who were having as good or better campaigns, including Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf of the Denver Nuggets and Jeff Hornacek of the Utah Jazz.

And, oh by the way, there was this guy named Clyde Drexler putting up decent numbers for the Portland Trail Blazers.

It wasn’t as if Drexler was an unknown. A member of the renowned 1992 Dream Team, Drexler was already an eight-time All-Star, including being picked each of the previous seven years.

Portland was 25-20 at the break and would deal the future Hall of Famer to the Houston Rockets two days after the All-Star Game, with Drexler averaging 22 points, 5.7 rebounds and 5.1 assists per game on .428/.363/.835 shooting.

Sprewell played 22 minutes at America West Arena, scoring nine points on 4-of-9 shooting with four rebounds, four assists and three steals.

He would play in two more All-Star games in his 13 NBA seasons. Drexler finished up a 15-year career with a Hall of Fame berth and 10 All-Star bids.

Next: The Actual Farewell Bid