The 25 best NBA players never to make an All-Star game — 23. Brent Barry
The son of Hall of Fame forward Rick Barry, Brent “Bones” Barry was a versatile player who made an impact on the league in multiple ways. Drafted in 1995 out of Oregon State, the 6’6″ wing was a gifted passer and an efficient scorer, with underrated athleticism and a commitment to growing his game year-by-year.
Highlighting his versatility as a player is key. Barry was an early sharpshooter from outside, a career 40.5 percent 3-point shooter who made 1,395 3-pointers over the course of his career. When he retired, that was the 13th-most in league history. He was also an athletic finisher inside, and his pizazz earned him a berth in the 1996 Slam Dunk Contest. In 2000-01, he led the league in 3-point percentage; in 2001-02, he led it in 2-point percentage.
Barry bounced around the league early on in his career, before catching on with the Seattle SuperSonics and playing five seasons as Gary Payton’s backcourt-mate and eventual successor. Then he became a member of the San Antonio Spurs, where he won two titles
Closest Call: Barry was no stranger to the NBA All-Star Weekend, taking part in both the Dunk Contest and the 3-point Contest over the years. His best season, and best shot at an All-Star berth, came in the 2001-02 season with Seattle. Barry led the league in 2-point and effective field goal percentage, hit 164 3-pointers (eighth in the league) and was a key member of a playoff team. “Close” was never all that close for Barry, though, whose positive contributions were not as flashy as many of his peers.