Brooklyn Nets: Evaluating Spencer Dinwiddie’s All-Star candidacy
As the league gears up for the 2019 NBA All-Star Game, Brooklyn Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie is a name to keep an eye on.
The first returns for fan votes are back for the 68th NBA All-Star Game, set to take place Feb. 17 in Charlotte. Certain results were expected, such as LeBron James and Stephen Curry leading their conference in the frontcourt and backcourt voting, respectively. Similarly, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kyrie Irving received the most votes in the East, shocking no one.
However, there were some names present that surprised people around the league. Rookie of the Year candidate Luka Doncic was second in West frontcourt, ahead of former All-Stars such as Kevin Durant and Anthony Davis. Derrick Rose’s presence at second among West guards above players like James Harden and Russell Westbrook was far from expected, as well. Other names that appeared — like Jeremy Lin, Kyle Kuzma and DeMarcus Cousins, who has yet to play a game this season — definitely weren’t players most predicted to see.
Perhaps just as surprising as some of the names on the list, were some of the names left out, particularly the Brooklyn Nets’ Spencer Dinwiddie.
Dinwiddie has been a dynamic player on a Nets team that has been on a tear as of late, fighting its way into the hunt for playoff seeding and going 10-6 since Dec. 1. Despite coming off the bench, the 25-year-old combo guard is putting up some serious numbers.
His 17.5 points per game rank him fourth among all reserves in the league, and his 5.2 assists a night leave him only second to J.J. Barea. Dinwiddie is also putting up 2.5 rebounds and 0.6 steals per game, with an effective field goal percentage of 54.9 percent — all in only 28.8 minutes per game.
There is no doubt that Spencer Dinwiddie, who has over twice as many games scoring 25 or more than single-digit performances, has been outstanding so far this season. Although he is a fan favorite, and a player whose success is applauded by many around the league, his impressive play might not earn him a spot on the All-Star roster.
Making a case for Dinwiddie to start on the team is all but impossible, as it is highly unlikely that he would get a place above players like Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker or Victor Oladipo. All these players have been playing great basketball in their own right, and Dwyane Wade’s legacy nod further complicates these chances.
With three or four guard spots available for the conference reserves, he could have an arguable case against players like Jeremy Lin or Zach LaVine, both of whom received votes placing them inside the top 10. Injury, cutting John Wall’s season short and currently sidelining Kyle Lowry, could aid in moving Dinwiddie forward in line for one of the reserve slots, especially if Lowry doesn’t before the break as expected.
All in all, the odds aren’t looking great for Spencer Dinwiddie. In the last 20 seasons, only one player has played in the All-Star Game without starting just about every game they played. In the 2004 All-Star Game, Brad Miller was selected, despite only starting 53 of the 72 games he suited up for the Sacramento Kings.
Kobe Bryant was the last player to play in the All-Star Game despite being a nonstarter (he only started one of the 79 games he played that season). It may have been 21 years ago, but the numbers Kobe put up that season are very similar to Dinwiddie’s stats so far this year.
Bryant played 26 minutes per game, with a season stat line of 15.4 points, 2.5 assists, 3.1 rebounds, 0.9 steals and 0.5 blocks. The big difference between the two is that the Los Angeles Lakers would finish the season with a 61-21 record, while the Nets are on pace to be far off from that mark.
Next. Week 12 NBA Power Rankings. dark
The possibility isn’t out of the question for Spencer Dinwiddie and the Brooklyn Nets, who haven’t had a player selected for an All-Star Game since Joe Johnson in 2014. Multiple moving parts, such as injury, a Kobe Bryant precedent, and the minimized impact of fan votes, could work in favor of Dinwiddie and help him secure a spot on the All-Star roster. With that being said, it might not be wise to hold your breath.