DeMarcus Cousins, Kyle Korver, Damian Lillard Among NBA All Star Snubs; Cousins Named to Replace Kobe

In this Jan. 21, 2015, file photo, Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins sits on the court after going to the floor in a scramble for the ball during the fourth quarter of an NBA basketball game against the Brooklyn Nets in Sacramento, Calif. (AP Photo/Rich Pedroncelli, File)

Atlanta Hawks sharpshooter Kyle Korver, Sacramento Kings big man DeMarcus Cousins, and Portland Trail Blazers guard Damian Lillard highlight the All-Star snubs this season.

Cousins was named to replace the injured Kobe Bryant by NBA commissioner Adam Silver on Friday.

Cousins, 24, has had a strong season, averaging 23.8 points per game on 48 percent shooting, along with 12.3 rebounds. However, his Sacramento Kings have struggled, currently 16-28 and well outside any chance of making the playoffs in the tough West.

Cousins recently said that he wanted to be an All-Star for the first time, although he was realistic about his chances. ‘To be totally honest, it is what it is,’‘ Cousins told the Associated Press. ’‘If I make it, I make it. If I don’t, I don’t.’’

Korver, 33, appears to be the biggest snub in the Eastern Conference. Korver is only averaging 13 points a game, but is the biggest player in the Hawks fine-tuned offense, and is set to shatter records by averaging 52 percent field goal shooting and 53 percent from 3-point range.

The shooting guard has started all 45 games so far, and is also averaging 4.2 rebounds and 2.9 assists in 33 minutes a game.

Atlanta Hawks' Kyle Korver, left, hits a three-point basket over Minnesota Timberwolves' Andrew Wiggins in the final minutes of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 25, 2015, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

 

Korver’s teammates Al Horford, Jeff Teague, and Paul Millsap have all made the All-Star team.

Another snub appears to be Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers. He will not be joining his teammate LaMarcus Aldridge on the team, despite averaging 21.8 points, 6.2 assists, and 4.6 rebounds per game in just his third season.

Mike Conley of the Memphis Grizzlies is another notable snub. Despite the second-best record in the West, the Grizzlies will only have one All-Star. Zach Randolph was another potential All-Star on the team.

Dwight Howard of the Rockets, currently fifth in the West, didn’t make the team, but has missed a lot of games.

The Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns, who are both ahead of the Oklahoma City Thunder--which had both Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant make the team--don’t have any All-Stars. Monta Ellis (20.5 points, 4.4 assists per game) and Goran Dragic (16.6 points, 4.1 assists) are among the snubs from these teams.