The list of All-Star reserves for the 2019 All-Star game in Charlotte has been announced, and it is noticeably missing a few names, including reigning Defensive Player of the Year and Utah Jazz center Rudy Gobert.
The All-Stars from both conferences tout some familiar faces as well as some new ones. Of course, there is always someone bound to be left out, but it's difficult to ignore the absence of a player of Rudy Gobert's caliber.
Unfortunately for the Jazz big man, it looks like missing the cut will also cost him.
According to ESPN’s Bobby Marks, Gobert will miss out on a $1 million bonus by not being selected as a starter or reserve to the All-Star game. Front-court names selected instead include Anthony Davis, LaMarcus Aldridge and Karl-Anthony Towns.
With Davis out due to injury and possibly finished for the season depending on how his eventual trade plays out, Rudy could make his way into the game as a replacement. However, that still won’t qualify him for the bonus.
Rudy Gobert will miss out on a $1M bonus for not being selected to the All-Star game. He will not receive the bonus if selected as a replacement player.
— Bobby Marks (@BobbyMarks42) February 1, 2019
Gobert had a slow start to the season but is putting up numbers even better than he did in 2017-18.
With the Jazz finding their way back to the top eight of the Western Conference, Gobert had a reasonable shot at being selected as a reserve. Nonetheless, in a stacked West, it seems the coaches felt otherwise.
So far this season, he is averaging 15.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 2.2 blocks. Already a fiery player, it is very likely that being snubbed for the All-Star game will only be extra motivation for Gobert down the stretch of the season and into the playoffs.
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