Toronto Raptors guard Fred VanVleet was among those who fans believe is supposed to be an All-Star but was snubbed. Rightfully so, head coach Nick Nurse is pissed, especially given all the effort that VanVleet has given.
Per Eric Koreen of The Athletic, Nurse tagged VanVleet as one of the major reasons for the Raptors' turnaround this season.
“I’m very disappointed,” Nurse says of VanVleet not making the All-Star Game.
He takes nothing away from guys who made it, recognizes how deep talent is. “He’s played his guts out,” and has been a big reason for Raptors’ turn-around.
— (((Eric Koreen))) (@ekoreen) February 24, 2021
The Raptors started the 2020-21 season with a dismal 2-8 record, a not-so-welcome sight for a team who was crowned world champions in 2019. Some experts even thought that the franchise is en route to pressing the rebuild button sometime in the season.
Yet little by little, the Raptors picked up win after win save a few losses here are there. Now, their record stands at a decent 16-16. And for those following the Raptors this season, it's no secret that VanVleet has been their main guy.
VanVleet is currently averaging 20.1 points per game, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.6 assists — all of which are career-highs. He also dropped a career-high 54 points in their win over the Orlando Magic earlier in the month. All of VanVleet's statistics in relation to the Raptors' rise from the standings definitely show that he deserves to be an All-Star.
And it's not just Nurse who's disappointed. Several members of the media also share the same sentiments:
For the record, everyday Fred VanVleet wakes up he’s an All-Star.
— Sid Seixeiro (@Sid_Seixeiro) February 23, 2021
For Marc Stein, VanVleet joins the long list of snubbed players in the East which includes the likes of Jimmy Butler, Trae Young, Khris Middleton, and more.
Snubs in the East:
Miami gets NO All-Star — no Jimmy Butler and no Bam Adebayo …
No Khris Middleton for Milwaukee …
Snubbed, too: Atlanta's Trae Young, Toronto's Fred VanVleet, Charlotte's Gordon Hayward, Indiana's Domantas Sabonis, Philadelphia's Tobias Harris and more https://t.co/hWvdhU96ew
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) February 24, 2021
It's definitely a sad day for Raptors fans. Their prized guard still isn't being recognized as one of the best in the league.
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