Five NBA All-Star Snubs

Now that the All-Star rosters are set (including replacements for the injured participants), it's time to accurately identify the official Snub List for the NBA All-Star Game 2009.

Let me say the name of the event again: the NBA All-Star Game 2009. That means the best players should be playing. Forget the hullabaloo about team success or position needs.

I repeat, the best players should be playing in the All-Star game

That being said, here is your NBA All-Snub Team 2009...

Kevin Durant

If Danny Granger is an All-Star in the East, Kevin Durant should represent in the West. It's that simple. Despite the fact Granger's Pacers are only five games out of a playoff spot, they're not getting to the postseason, so toss that arguement out the door.

The Pacers' better record doesn't mean Granger is better than Durant; their role players are better than those of the Thunder.

Besides, this is about the best players playing, remember? At 25.5 PPG, 5.6 RPG, and 2.8 APG, Durant is indisputably, undeniably and unarguably one of the best. He replaces New Orleans' Doug West on my roster.

Al Jefferson

It doesn't matter that this guy's injured. He was snubbed before he tore his ACL. Al Jefferson belongs in the All-Star game.

If you hear a stat line of 23.1 PPG and 11 RPG, you're thinking, "This guy is legit." That's because he is, people. Jefferson is a 6'10" grounded big man who performs his duties better than the heralded high-flyers that get the spotlight.

On my reshuffled All-Star roster, Jefferson takes O'Neal's spot. Not only to Jefferson's stats blow the Diesel's (17.3 PPG, 8.9 RPG) away, but Jefferson also turns the ball over less frequently in the post (1.84 cough-ups per game to O'Neal's 2.25).

Antawn Jamison

Yes, I'm aware the Wizards have the worst record in the Eastern Conference. I don't care. I want to see the best players at All-Star weekend, 'cause that's what the game is supposed to showcase.

And Jamison is, albeit quietly, one of the best. 21.4 PPG and 9.1 RPG? This guy does it all: score, rebound (at a generously listed 6'9") defends (1.25 SPG).

If he's in the West, I might consider having him take Amare Stoudemire's slot. As it is, it's an easy call to replace Orlando's Rashard Lewis with the former Tar Heel.

Vince Carter

Vinsanity joins his fellow Tar Heel teammate and 1998 draftee Jamison on my All-Snub Team. And why not? Just because up-and-coming Devin Harris is getting all the attention doesn't mean Carter isn't producing just as much (20 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 4.9 APG).

The truth of the matter is, Carter has stepped up his game when the rest of the world thought he'd take another step backwards. That's almost as inconceivable as the Steve Nash revival, people.

We haven't even brought up this point: who wouldn't want a Vince Carter highlight in the All-Star game? Sorry A.I., but you've just been replaced.

Deron Williams

This one was hard, if only because the guy he replaces was the only one I regretted. Still, I can't leave Williams off my All-Snub/All-Star team. He's 0.8 points short of averaging 20 and 10. That hasn't been done since the Tim Hardaway glory years.

Pass, shoot, score, defend, rebound there isn't a thing this guy doesn't do well. Granted, I could say the same thing about Chauncey Billups, but Williams does all those things....better.

Not to mention he'll spice up the All-Star alley-oop reel better than Billups could.