Paul George was one of the stars players snubbed from the 2018 NBA All-Star Game. George, who many thought should have been picked, didn’t let it affect his pride.
The 2018 NBA All-Star reserves were picked on TNT on Tuesday and Russell Westbrook‘s name was called. After winning the MVP last year and having another monster season statistically, Westbrook was an obvious pick to make the team. One name that was missing was Paul George, who many thought should have made it.
Westbrook averaged a triple-double last year and had a 30-10-10 stat line that rivaled Oscar Robertson when he won it back in the 1961-62 season.
This year he has similar numbers with his 24.9 points, 10 assists and 9.6 rebounds per game. Westbrook made the Western All-Star reserves, which were selected by the head coaches of the league.
Paul George joined players like Andre Drummond and Chris Paul who were left out, but he is not sweating the opportunity to play with the best of the best.
"“It is what it is,” George said. “I wasn’t an All-Star. Whoever voted or whoever made the list thought the same. I wasn’t an All-Star apparently. Life goes on. I got a second half (of the season) to play. Melo said it the best. Us being in the East it’s easier for us because we are pretty much putting the team on our back but it is bigger dreams and bigger goals for me. What I got to look forward to is winning a championship. It is what it is. It wasn’t going to put me in a lost place or a sunken place.”"
Paul George on not making the All-Star team, says “it is what it is” and that he has “bigger goals and bigger dreams.” pic.twitter.com/jvmXKW7j4t
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) January 24, 2018
George decided to join OKC with the opportunity to do big things with Russell Westbrook. When Carmelo Anthony joined, the Thunder had championship aspirations. The OK3, as they called it, has stuck together and now the team is seven games above .500 and on a five-game winning streak.
The Thunder are in the fifth spot and are 3.5 games behind the San Antonio Spurs in the third spot. The other two heads of the three-headed monster in Westbrook and Carmelo spoke up for their cast out peer.
"“It’s unbelievable,” Westbrook said about George not being voted as an All-Star. “I think it’s just outrageous in my opinion….I don’t see how a guy leads the league in steals, can compete every night and be top two in his position and not make it. It doesn’t make any sense….I just think it’s outrageous but it is what it is.”"
Russell Westbrook called it “outrageous” that Paul George was not named an All-Star: pic.twitter.com/62vmKKbFSx
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) January 24, 2018
Carmelo said:
"“It is what it is man,” Carmelo said about himself and George not making the team. “They only pick seven guys. Do he [George] deserve it? Of course. He leads the league in steals and is having a career year in that aspect…..”"
On himself not making it:
"“I don’t think it’s any disappointment for me. Coming here I knew it was a sacrifice. It was a full sacrifice for me. It wasn’t a half sacrifice so this is part of that sacrifice. There’s no hard feelings for me.”"
Carmelo Anthony on Paul George not making the All-Star team, as well as his own All-Star streak coming to an end: “Coming here I knew this would be a sacrifice, a full sacrifice for me not a half sacrifice and this is part of that sacrifice.” pic.twitter.com/zJldIe4awu
— Royce Young (@royceyoung) January 24, 2018
Paul George does not lead the league in steals anymore. That title is held by Eric Bledsoe. George is still second with 2.1 per game. The Thunder, though, still lead the league in steals as a team with 9.4 per game and George is a big reason for that.
Finally, the Thunder are fourth in defensive rating with 102.8. Paul George has two-way ability that commands respect. George, Westbrook and Jimmy Butler are the only players averaging 20 points per game or more with two or more steals a game.
What George fell victim to is being in the crowded Western Conference. They almost owed Damian Lillard a spot after he got snubbed last year and Draymond Green is a crucial part of the Golden State Warriors.
Two players made it for the Minnesota Timberwolves because they have managed to get into the third spot in the Western Conference. The Timberwolves have also recently blown out OKC on Jan.11. The proof is in the pudding.
Next: 2017-18 Week 15 NBA Power Rankings
The OKC Thunder have not been a dominant team during this season as they have lost games against opponents they should beat, and at times have not looked as good as what people have expected out of them. But even without Carmelo Anthony and Paul George making the All-Star Game, the OK3 is starting to find its momentum.