Russell Westbrook not being named an All-Star Game starter not only left many observers baffled, but also many players.
The NBA All-Star Game starters were announced on Thursday, and Westbrook, who is a top contender for league MVP, was not a starter. The Oklahoma City Thunder guard was first among Western Conference guards in the player and media vote, but third in the fan vote behind Steph Curry and James Harden. The fan vote is the tiebreaker, which made Curry and Harden the two starters.
Chandler Parsons, a forward for the Memphis Grizzlies, openly questioned the result via Twitter:
Dude averaging a triple double and not starting in the all star game is wild.
— Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) January 20, 2017
As did Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr:
How is Russell Westbrook not an all star starter!? He is playing out of his mind.
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) January 19, 2017
Westbrook will still make the All-Star Game, but that’s a poor job by the fans not to vote him in as a starter. He leads the NBA in scoring, is second in assists, and averaging over 10 rebounds per game. What more could you want from a player?
