NBA: The 25 best NBA players never to make an All-Star game

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Shane Battier Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images /

The 25 best NBA players never to make an All-Star game — 13. Shane Battier

Shane Battier was drafted by the Memphis Grizzlies in 2001, the sixth player off the board. In his rookie season for the Grizzlies, he would average 14.4 points per game. That number would prove to be a career-best; he would never again come within even four points of that mark.

Battier would make his mark on the league not by scoring, but by becoming a defensive stopper par excellence. He studied endless hours of tape on his opponents, learning their tendencies, their favorite moves, their weaknesses. He could mirror a ballhandler almost perfectly, beating them to the spot. When they rose for a shot, his arm extended with them.

While his lack of offensive production held him back from serious All-Star consideration, he was recognized for his defensive chops. He was named to the All Defense team in both 2007-08 and 2008-09, both with the Houston Rockets. Later in his career, his ability to guard up and down the lineup unlocked unstoppable lineups with the Miami Heat. Battier would win two titles with the Heat before retiring in 2014.

Closest Call: In the 2006-07 season, Battier started all 82 games for a 52-win Houston Rockets team. While he averaged just 10.1 points per game, he did so highly efficiently, including 42.1 percent from the 3-point line. Battier’s wing defense was a key part of the Rockets’ success, but it’s hard to quantify and not particularly fun for an exhibition game.