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NBA Player Power Rankings: All-Star Break Edition

By Maxwell Ogden

February 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30), forward Draymond Green (23), and guard Klay Thompson (11) hold their all star jerseys before the game against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
February 9, 2016; Oakland, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30), forward Draymond Green (23), and guard Klay Thompson (11) hold their all star jerseys before the game against the Houston Rockets at Oracle Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 10, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after making a three point basket against the Houston Rockets during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2016; Portland, OR, USA; Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard (0) reacts after making a three point basket against the Houston Rockets during the fourth quarter at the Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Craig Mitchelldyer-USA TODAY Sports /

14. Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Last Rank: No. 14

Position: Point Guard

Age: 25

Slash Line: .418/.363/.861

Season Averages: 36.1 MPG, 24.3 PPG, 7.3 APG, 4.4 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 2.9 3PM

It’s nothing short of shameful that Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard will not be an All-Star in 2016. Not only has he posted the numbers to warrant a selection, but he has Portland playing well enough to be in sole possession of the No. 7 seed in the Western Conference.

Considering Portland lost Arron Afflalo, LaMarcus Aldridge, Nicolas Batum, Robin Lopez, and Wesley Matthews this past offseason, that’s an unspeakably shocking truth.

Lillard’s most recent week was one to put on the resume, as he led the Trail Blazers to three high-quality wins in four outings. During the one loss, he still managed to post 27 points and 11 assists against fellow Top 15 player Kyle Lowry and the Toronto Raptors.

Lillard also tallied 21 points and 10 assists against the Houston Rockets, 33 points at the Memphis Grizzlies, and 31 points and nine assists in a rematch with Houston.

Lillard is No. 14 in the NBA in Value Over Replacement Player, which is essentially the NBA’s version of WAR. He joins James Harden—a player whom he defeated head-to-head twice in the past week—and Russell Westbrook as the only three players averaging at least 24.0 points and 7.0 assists in 2015-16.

There’s no rational way to justify Lillard being excluded from the All-Star Game. He’s a genuine snub.

Next: The Star Up North