Mike Conley Jr. is finally an All-Star. Thus ends the longstanding claim that the Utah Jazz guard is the most deserving star to never make it. While most NBA circles are celebrating the 14-year veteran's triumph, not everyone is particularly thrilled. That list apparently currently includes San Antonio Spurs star DeMar DeRozan.
Gets to a point where you just gotta laugh at the bullshit!!
— DeMar DeRozan (@DeMar_DeRozan) March 6, 2021
Just like the Spurs veteran, Mike Conley wasn't initially selected for the game and was on the same online listicles for All-Star snubs. But when Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker was announced out for the festivities, it opened the door for Conley to be chosen. He's actually slated to be a replacement of a replacement, after Booker himself was initially a controversial snub until he was tabbed as the replacement to Los Angeles Lakers big man Anthony Davis.
Booker will miss the All-Star Game due to a left knee sprain. He was named as a replacement for Lakers‘ Anthony Davis. https://t.co/S7zuocbogR
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) March 6, 2021
Everyone pointed to Devin Booker's numbers and how it was unfathomable for him to miss the cut. Those same people are probably looking at Conley and thinking the opposite, given how other stars like San Antonio's DeRozan have much better numbers.
The Jazz point guard is posting 16.1 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. He's shooting 44.4% from the field and 42.2% from the three-point line. His advanced stats also point to his immense impact when on the floor for Utah. While those numbers are definitely stellar, they still pale in comparison to others around the league.
Mike Conley vs DeMar DeRozan this year. Left is Conley
16.1 PPG. 20 PPG
3.5 RPG. 4.9 RPG
5.7 APG. 7.2 APG
58.8 TS%. 59.4 TS%Conley is the 3rd best player on his team. DeRozan is leading the spurs to 7th in the west pic.twitter.com/bH8ipJcp7r
— Keldon’s Him (@RangersPlsWln) March 6, 2021
Young studs like Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Toronto's Fred VanVleet, and Miami's Bam Adebayo, all outpaced Conley. So did elder statesmen like Charlotte's Gordon Hayward and Adebayo's teammate Jimmy Butler.
Jazz fans would hastily point out the fact that they have the best record in the NBA at 27-9. But both Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell have already been named All-Stars. Perhaps a playoff team without one yet, like the Spurs or Raptors, deserves their first slot over a third Jazz man.
But at the end of the day, Conley is making it to his first All-Star game. While it may sting for deserving players like DeRozan and Spurs fans alike, you can't be salty about that for long.
Follow Us
Subscribe