3 Surprising players on first 2023 All-Star Game ballot release

3. G Russell Westbrook, Los Angeles Lakers

The chatter around Russell Westbrook’s play is not as loud as it was a year ago. That doesn’t suddenly make him deserving of an All-Star spot, though.

The former MVP is coming off the bench full-time this season with the Los Angeles Lakers, only starting three games. His numbers look okay considering his new role, averaging a robust 15.1 points, 7.9 assists, and 6.4 rebounds per game.

This is Westbrook, though, so the efficiency numbers aren’t pretty. He’s hitting only 28.5 percent of his three-point attempts. His effective field goal percentage is 45.6 percent, which would be his worst mark since his junior season in Oklahoma City.

His bench role makes comparing simple averages a futile task, but his per 36 numbers reveal a player whose prime seems to have passed. He’s averaging 19.2 points per game per 36, which would be his worst mark since Year 2.

The advanced statistics don’t present the picture of an All-Star, either. His true shooting percentage is near the worst of his career. His turnover percentage is astounding 19.3 percent, the highest of his career.

Westbrook is currently 4th in the NBA in total turnovers. Remarkably, that would be his second-best finish in the counting stat in nine seasons. Maybe that’s his best case for an All-Star nod.

The mercurial guard deserves to get commended for finally accepting a bench role. If that helps the Lakers make the playoffs and a postseason run – which is not looking promising so far – even better. But calling him an All-Star is akin to a lifetime achievement award right now, not evidenced by anything on the court.