The Argument for Every 2015 NBA All-Star Hopeful
The All-Star starters have been decided, but it's now time for the rest of the rosters to be filled out.
This isn't a particularly easy process.
In the Eastern Conference, it's tough to find enough deserving players to take over the seven reserve spots. We're going to be looking at some players with resumes that don't really seem All-Star-worthy as a result since the competition is happening at a much lower level.
But in the NBA's tougher half, it's ridiculously tough to include only eight players—seven, plus one more as an injury replacement for Kobe Bryant, who was voted in as a starter and is now out for the season following surgery for his torn rotator cuff.
Someone like Zach Randolph or Rajon Rondo might have a strong case in the East. But in the West, they aren't even worth featuring.
The competition is just that strong.
After each case is made, you'll also see a prediction that reveals whether a player will ultimately be in or out of the festivities. Keep in mind that's not how I would vote if I had a ballot, but rather what I expect the coaches to do in each conference.
Atlanta Hawks: 4 Candidates
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Is the Atlanta Hawks big man allowed to miss shots? Al Hoford is shooting 54.6 percent from the field during the entirety of the 2014-15 campaign, but over the last 16 games—all of which Atlanta has won—he's knocking down 55.6 percent of his looks. And during his seven most recent outings, that number is all the way up to a scorching 73.6 percent.
Horford's numbers may not be what you'd expect from an All-Star big man. He's averaging only 15.2 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
However, he's been a two-way anchor for the best team in the Eastern Conference. His steadiness on offense and mid-range ability create plenty of opportunities for other players in single coverage, and his knack for protecting the paint has been quite valuable.
As ESPN Insider Jeff Goodman wrote just before Christmas, "One NBA executive put the difference between Horford in or out of the lineup over an 82-game schedule at about 10 victories. Another said that figure might even be a bit conservative."
Horford has been even better since that was penned.
Prediction: In
Kyle Korver
The league's best sniper isn't a traditional All-Star. He doesn't fit the mold of a player who typically shows up at an exhibition game meant solely for entertainment, as he doesn't have the dunking prowess (yes, despite his two slams this season) or the requisite athleticism.
But Korver has been so good this year that he absolutely belongs in the conversation. After all, he's on pace to become the first qualified player in NBA history to hit 50 percent of his shots from the field, 50 percent of his looks from beyond the arc and 90 percent of his attempts at the charity stripe.
Just having him on the floor completely alters how teams approach the Atlanta offense. In fact, Basketball-Reference.com shows that the Hawks score an additional 14.2 points per 100 possessions when he's playing, enough to move them from No. 29 to No. 1 in the season-long standings.
"The difference in value between those glamour skills and what Korver does—shooting, running around, making smart cuts—is shrinking," Zach Lowe writes for Grantland while arguing that Korver is one of four Hawks who should make the team. "Korver 'can't create his own shot,' the lazy catchall for what constitutes an All-Star, but there's much more than that to being a good NBA player in 2015."
Prediction: Out
Paul Millsap
Mr. Versatility for the Hawks has averaged 17.0 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.8 steals and 0.9 blocks per game while shooting 48.6 percent from the field and 35.5 percent from beyond the arc. Any guesses how many players throughout the league have matched or exceeded all seven of those numbers in 2014-15?
Absolutely no one, per Basketball-Reference.com. In all of NBA history, Larry Bird is literally the only one who comes within one category of qualifying, falling short only in blocks.
Whatever the Hawks need, Millsap has been able to provide it. An All-Star last year, he's thrived working along the baseline, spaced the court out with the threat of his perimeter stroke and displayed his worker's mentality at all times.
If there's a single lock on the Atlanta roster, it should be Millsap, especially given the weakness of the Eastern Conference frontcourt.
Prediction: In
Jeff Teague
Any concerns that the Hawks don't have that one player who can take over should be alleviated by Jeff Teague.
With speed that makes him impossible to stay in front of—Brad Stevens recently said about the point guard, per ESPNBoston.com's Chris Forsberg, "I don't know what qualifies as a superstar but I know this: Nobody in the league can keep Jeff Teague in front of them. Nobody."—he's been getting into the paint at will and converting plenty of his touch shots. His floater, runner and stop-and-pop jumper have all improved drastically, allowing him to become the unquestioned leader of a share-happy Atlanta offense.
And during crunch time, he's been even more unstoppable.
According to NBA.com's statistical databases, which define "clutch" as action that occurs while the clock is below 5:00 and the margin is no greater than five points, Teague's net rating in those situations is a scorching 20.3. Per 36 minutes, he's producing 27.3 points, 2.7 rebounds and 10.0 assists.
Prediction: In
Chicago Bulls: 2 Candidates
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Jimmy Butler
Jimmy Butler has improved remarkably during the 2014-15 season, blossoming into an offensive superstar while maintaining his prowess on the defensive end of the court. Last season, he averaged 13.1 points per game on 39.7 percent shooting from the field and a 28.3 percent clip from downtown. But this year, he's putting up 20.1 points per contest on 45.9 percent from the field and 34.1 percent beyond the arc.
How's that for improvement?
Butler has become the best player on the Chicago Bulls. Yes, even better than former MVP Derrick Rose and All-Star starter Pau Gasol. His two-way excellence has kept this team afloat through injuries and identity-finding sessions.
January has been a tough month for the breakout shooting guard sensation, but the body of work is more than enough to cancel out one period of poor shooting and diminished scoring.
Prediction: In
Derrick Rose
The case for Derrick Rose isn't one that can be made with statistics.
After all, those show that the former MVP has struggled mightily throughout the 2014-15 season, failing to provide the offensive production we were accustomed to seeing before his many injuries and only displaying flashes of his former self. His 17.2 player efficiency rating, per Basketball-Reference.com, just about says it all.
But Rose still has a shot at the team because, well, he's Derrick Rose. Oh, and he plays in the Eastern Conference, where finding the last few deserving players is much tougher than it is in the NBA's stronger half.
If the coaches want to capture that burst of excitement, appeal to fans and hope that the improved play we've seen in a few recent games will stick, they're going to pick him. Numbers be damned.
Prediction: Out
Cleveland Cavaliers: Kyrie Irving
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On the surface level, it appears that Kyrie Irving's production has stagnated, as his per-game stats aren't superior to last year's. If anything, they're slightly worse since he's playing more minutes under David Blatt than he did in 2013-14.
But efficiency matters, and that's where Irving has improved significantly.
During the 2013-14 campaign, the former No. 1 pick slashed 43.0/35.8/86.1, and he did so while turning the ball over 2.7 times per contest. But this season, his cough-ups are down to 2.3 per game, and he's shooting 46.3 percent from the field, 38.7 percent from beyond the arc and 83.9 percent at the charity stripe.
Would it be nice if Irving developed on the boards and started playing high-quality defense? Sure, but that's not who he is at this stage of his career. He's still an exciting offensive threat with some of the best handles in the league, a player capable of lighting up the scoreboard and dazzling crowds.
Much like Rose, Irving's All-Star case relies more on flash than actual substance. But there's still a strong case all the same.
Prediction: Out
Dallas Mavericks: 2 Candidates
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Monta Ellis
As Bryan Gutierrez of MavsOutsider tweeted in separate messages (h/t ProBasketballTalk's Brett Pollakoff), Rick Carlisle is all over the Monta Ellis All-Star campaign:
"Carlisle on the most-deserving Mav as an All-Star: 'I think Monta Ellis is the most deserving based on how he continues to elevate his game'
Carlisle on Ellis as an All-Star: 'Each year with us, his defense is a bigger factor. He's become a leader. … The evidence is all there.'
Rick Carlisle: 'Monta Ellis deserves to be an All-Star. Tweet that.'
"
I'm not entirely convinced that defense is the reason to boast about Ellis' candidacy. He has a negative defensive box plus/minus, indicating the Dallas Mavericks would be better at preventing points if he were replaced by a league-average defender. Plus, Basketball-Reference.com also shows that the Mavs have allowed an additional 0.2 points per 100 possessions when he's on the floor.
But Ellis' offense has been incredible, as he's averaging an efficient 20.3 points per game while finding time to involve all of his teammates. The defensive case may not be strong, but the shooting guard remains a point-producing force who's never afraid to handle the ball during a key end-game possession.
Prediction: Out
On sheer legacy alone, Dirk Nowitzki deserves to be included in the 2015 All-Star conversation.
After all, he's made the team in 12 of the past 13 seasons, and the lone exception came in 2012-13, when an injury delayed the start of the season and prevented him from playing All-Star-caliber ball until the second half of the campaign. And this year, he's continued to aid the Mavericks with some extremely effective basketball.
At 36 years old, Nowitzki is scoring 18.9 points per game (22.9 per 36 minutes), and he's doing so while shooting 47.1 percent from the field, 36.1 percent from beyond the arc and 90.4 percent from the charity stripe. He's just an extended hot streak away from having a legitimate shot at another 50/40/90 season.
In a vacuum, Nowitzki isn't an All-Star. He doesn't play enough defense or carry his weight on the boards. But even in the tough Western Conference, it may be tough to avoid giving a nod to such a respected veteran continuing to serve as a key figure on one of the league's true contenders.
Prediction: Out
Denver Nuggets: Ty Lawson
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The 2014-15 campaign has been a massively disappointing one for a Denver Nuggets organization that carried such high hopes into the season. But amid a crowd of underachieving and lackluster players, Ty Lawson has been one of the few bright spots.
After starting the season slowly, the point guard has come on strong, dishing out one assist after another and continuing to serve as one of the squad's best scorers. He's averaging 17.1 points per game on 44.4 percent shooting, but that's rather easily the less impressive part of his offensive game.
For the first time in his career, Lawson is averaging a dollar's worth of dimes. With 10 assists per game to his credit, he's trailing only John Wall in the category and has a legitimate shot at moving up into the NBA's top spot. That alone should allow him to gain consideration for an All-Star bid, even as the Nuggets struggle to stay in the playoff hunt for the Western Conference's No. 8 spot.
There's no rule that an All-Star has to play for a winning team.
Prediction: Out
Detroit Pistons: Andre Drummond
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Andre Drummond doesn't have a supremely high offensive ceiling, and it's time to lower any extreme expectations that had him developing into a scoring stud this soon in his career. In fact, Stan Van Gundy may have his work cut out for him if he's going to keep trying to build a system with the Detroit Pistons that requires Drummond to play the role Dwight Howard once filled with the Orlando Magic.
But while his development in the post sputters, Drummond continues to assert himself as an absolute beast on the offensive glass, and that allows him to keep scoring with decent volume and impressive efficiency. He's also been much better since Josh Smith left town and the floor spacing improved in Motor City.
Starting with a Dec. 26 victory over the Indiana Pacers, the big man has averaged 12.8 points, 13.3 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.6 blocks per game, doing so while shooting 52.6 percent from the field. Those numbers could still be better, especially because he continues to be held back by his putrid free-throw shooting, but he's an incredibly useful niche player.
Is a center capable of dominating on the glass, protecting the rim with aplomb and providing efficient bursts of offense a strong All-Star candidate?
In the Eastern Conference, the answer has to be a positive one.
Prediction: Out
Golden State Warriors: Klay Thompson
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I can sum this up in one number: 37.
When Klay Thompson exploded for that many points in a single quarter against the Sacramento Kings on Jan. 23, he basically cemented his case for a berth to the main event in New York City. Michael Jordan never scored that many points in a 12-minute stretch. Neither did Kobe Bryant, Wilt Chamberlain or LeBron James.
In fact, nobody in NBA history has ever matched the feat, as Thompson broke a record that was shared by George Gervin and Carmelo Anthony at 33.
But his candidacy isn't based on just one quarter. Nothing could be further from the truth, as his improvement has been one of the true keys behind the Golden State Warriors turning into the league's best team. Creating his own shot, dishing on drives into the teeth of the defense and continuing to rip the net from the outside, he's been an offensive phenom while still settling down into his stance on the other end and asserting himself as a defensive force.
Stephen Curry is an All-Star starter, receiving more votes than any other player in the NBA. His fellow Splash Brother should absolutely join him, giving the Dubs two representatives in the Midseason Classic. Draymond Green would likely get consideration as well in the East, but the West is too deep for that to happen at this point in the Michigan State product's career.
Prediction: In
Houston Rockets: 2 Candidates
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This is as obvious as it gets, so we won't waste much time before moving onto the Houston Rockets' second possible representative.
James Harden is one of two MVP front-runners at this stage in the season. He received the fifth-most votes of any player in the NBA but was outpaced by Stephen Curry and Kobe Bryant in the Western Conference backcourt, even though the latter has no real case—other than popularity, of course—to be ahead of him in those standings.
The bearded shooting guard deciding he never wants to shoot another free throw is more likely than the coaches leaving him off this roster.
Prediction: In
Dwight Howard
Due to a litany of injuries, Dwight Howard has played in just 32 of his team's 45 games thus far. But when he's been on the court, he's continued to assert himself as one of the NBA's very best centers.
The big man is averaging only 16.3 points, which would be his lowest mark since 2005-06, his second season in the Association. He's pulling down just 11 rebounds per game, a number that he's topped ever since averaging 10 boards per contest as a fresh-faced rookie coming directly out of Southwest Atlanta Christian Academy. He's shooting "only" 57.5 percent from the field, which he's failed to beat in just two of the past nine years.
But Howard hasn't needed to put up monstrous numbers while playing alongside such an effective version of Harden. Plus, the Rockets are far better when he's on the floor.
With him playing, they're outscoring the opposition by 7.5 points per 100 possessions, via Basketball-Reference.com. When he sits, that number drops to 0.8.
Prediction: Out
Los Angeles Clippers: 2 Candidates
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DeAndre Jordan
"I say it all the time, DJ [DeAndre Jordan] is an All-Star," Chris Paul recently told Bleacher Report's Josh Martin. "I think he's the Defensive Player of the Year. All the different accolades, I think he should have."
And while many seemed to voice similar sentiments, it's Doc Rivers, the Los Angeles Clippers head coach, who put it best: "If DJ was doing what he's doing on the defensive end on the offensive end, he'd be in."
Isn't he, though?
Jordan isn't a player who's going to light up the scoresheet. Instead, he's scoring 10.2 points per game, never turning the ball over and shooting a mind-popping 73.1 percent from the field. Let me put that in perspective for you.
Wilt Chamberlain has the all-time record for field-goal percentage by a qualified player—72.7 percent. Granted, Chamberlain scored a lot more points, but this type of efficiency has literally never been seen at any point in NBA history. In fact, that 1972-73 season by the 100-point center is 4 percent higher than any other number produced by any other player in any other year.
Well, any player until Jordan—and not the Michael version.
Prediction: Out
Chris Paul
Though Chris Paul may no longer have a firm grasp on the "best point guard in the NBA" crown he's held for so many years, it's not as though he's declined.
He's still averaging 17.4 points, 4.7 rebounds, 9.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game while shooting 47.1 percent from the field, 40.1 percent from downtown and 89.3 percent from the stripe. His PER, via Basketball-Reference.com, is a scorching 24.8, and he's still been an asset on the defensive end.
Oh, and the Clips are so much better when he's on the floor.
With Paul playing, the Los Angeles Clippers are scoring 119.5 points per 100 possessions and allowing 105.8, good for a net rating of 13.7. But when he sits, the team scores 100.5 and allows 106.6 over the same stretch, which gives a net rating of minus-6.1.
That, right there, is All-Star-level impact.
Prediction: In
Memphis Grizzlies: Mike Conley
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Marc Gasol is already in as an All-Star starter, and Zach Randolph has missed too much time to be considered, given the depth of the power forward position in the Western Conference. But the Memphis Grizzlies still have another legitimate candidate for one of the reserve spots, coming in the form of the always underrated Mike Conley.
Except, according to Grantland.com's Jonathan Abrams, I'm not supposed to call him that anymore:
"Today, it's nearly impossible to imagine the Grizzlies’ success without Conley. [Lionel] Hollins has moved on (he now stalks the sideline for the Brooklyn Nets), but the 'underrated' label that has long been attached to Conley is outdated and no longer applicable. He is one of the league's best orchestrators for one of the league's best teams, and he serves as the guiding, steadying influence on an emotional roster.
'When you look at Mike Conley, he's just as important to the success of the Memphis Grizzlies as Zach Randolph or Marc Gasol,' said Johnny Davis, a Memphis assistant coach when Conley entered the league. 'If he goes out, you're talking about a different team. He has evolved into one of the better point guards in the NBA.'
"
Let's make a deal.
We'll stop calling him underrated when, you know, he actually gets the credit he's due. This season, that could come in the form of an All-Star berth, as the coaches should recognize the incredible two-way impact he's had for the Grizz.
The southpaw is having—without question—the best season of his career.
He's scoring more, and he's doing so with increased efficiency as his outside stroke is on point and he's become quite adept at working his way to the charity stripe. He rarely turns the ball over, and he's remained an effective first line of defense for Dave Joerger's squad.
First, let's see him rewarded properly. Then we'll drop the underrated tag from the spot alongside Conley's name that it's occupied for a while now.
Prediction: Out
Miami Heat: 2 Candidates
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Is it really Chris Bosh's fault that the Miami Heat have struggled throughout the 2014-15 season? He's been miscast as a rim-protecting big on the defensive end of the court, but his ability to space the floor with his ever-threatening jumper has kept the offense alive.
The big man has averaged 21.2 points per game, and he's done so while knocking down 47 percent of his shots from the field. While that's lower than any percentage he's submitted since his rookie season with the Toronto Raptors, he's making up for it by taking a career-high 3.8 triples per game and connecting at a 37 percent clip.
"I can't ignore the load Bosh has shouldered for the Heat in the wake of LeBron's exit," ESPN.com's Marc Stein wrote about this 30-year-old standout while giving him one of the Eastern Conference's reserve spots, and that's the biggest plus for him in this competition.
Bosh's usage is up rather dramatically, and he's still remained highly effective on offense.
Prediction: In
Remember how Dwyane Wade was supposed to have declined rather significantly?
While his hamstrings have betrayed him a few times, the shooting guard has been quite effective when he's on the floor for the Heat. Somehow, this player who's supposedly in the twilight of his career has averaged 21.7 points, 3.9 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game while submitting a 22.5 PER, via Basketball-Reference.com.
The flashes of vintage Wade, though they've been there, haven't come all that frequently.
He's splitting defenders and then hitting jumpers rather than attacking the rim with ferocity, and he doesn't have the energy to commit fully on both ends of the court. However, he's adapted to the limitations of his body and remained extremely effective for a struggling Miami squad.
That should count for something, especially when injuries have reduced the number of legitimate Eastern Conference backcourt candidates rather significantly. On that note, let's pour one out for Kemba Walker and Brandon Jennings, both of whom would be strong candidates if they could actually play in the exhibition contest.
Prediction: In
Oklahoma City Thunder: 2 Candidates
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We're going to group these two together, as their cases are remarkably similar.
Russell Westbrook played two games at the beginning of the year before his fractured hand forced an extended period of time out of the lineup. Since he's returned, he's played in 31 games and been a supremely dominant floor general, averaging a jaw-dropping 24.7 points, 6.0 rebounds, 7.6 assists and 2.3 steals per contest.
Kevin Durant's foot delayed his season debut, and he's played in just 21 outings that surround another absence—this one caused by a sprained ankle. But while he's been on the floor, OKC has been significantly better. That makes sense, of course, as he's played at an MVP level while healthy.
If coaches believe these two have played enough to justify selection to the reserves, they're both in. After all, they've been two of the very best players in the entire NBA, not just their half of it. But if they haven't suited up enough times to make a sufficiently large impact in the deep Western Conference, they're out.
It's as simple as that.
Prediction: Both In
Orlando Magic: Nikola Vucevic
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It's time that Nikola Vucevic gets the credit he deserves.
The Orlando Magic big man is far more than a fantasy basketball stud. He's a high-quality center who's getting better on defense every year and putting up incredible scoring and rebounding numbers whenever he steps between the lines. Not only is Vucevic averaging 19.5 points and 11.2 rebounds per game, but he's doing so while shooting 53.6 percent from the field and posting a 22.1 PER, via Basketball-Reference.com.
Not many players have managed to average 19 and 11 with a PER on the right side of 22 in the last decade. Not many at all, as LaMarcus Aldridge, Carlos Boozer, DeMarcus Cousins, Tim Duncan, Kevin Garnett, Blake Griffin, Dwight Howard, Al Jefferson, David Lee, Kevin Love, Shawn Marion and Zach Randolph are the only ones.
Good luck finding a non-All-Star among that group.
As John Denton detailed for NBA.com, coaches are starting to come around on the USC product:
"Several coaches throughout the NBA have lined up in support of Vucevic this season as a rising star in the league. Before Vucevic dropped 33 points on Miami in November, Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said, 'You can't just say he's a good, young player anymore. He is a very good NBA basketball player who is multiskilled and is a big target.'
Clippers coach Doc Rivers, who saw Vucevic drop a 30-point/20-rebound game on his team a season earlier, had this to say, 'He's probably the best player in the league that nobody knows. When you look at his raw numbers, they are superstar and All-Star worthy, but nobody knows it.'
Finally, Portland's Terry Stotts said this about Vucevic following his career-best 34-point effort earlier in January, 'He showed why he's one of the up-and-coming big men in the league.'
"
Vucevic has arrived.
And he's only 24 years old, still possessing plenty of unrealized potential.
Prediction: In
Portland Trail Blazers: 2 Candidates
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LaMarcus Aldridge
"He has developed into the rare big man who can do a little bit of everything on defense," Grantland's Zach Lowe wrote about LaMarcus Aldridge while breaking down what the Portland Trail Blazers would miss while the power forward recovered from the thumb injury that wouldn't actually keep him out...somehow. "He's tall enough, with long arms and a tough disposition, to battle behemoths in the post and to protect the basket. Stick him against Memphis, and Aldridge can manage fine against Marc Gasol or Zach Randolph."
That's been the biggest developmental key for Aldridge.
He's always been a threatening offensive player thanks to his nearly unblockable mid-range jumper (Anthony Davis is arguably the only one capable of disagreeing). His rebounding is highly beneficial, and he's extremely careful with the ball.
But until recently, Aldridge was a defensive liability. Now, Terry Stotts is perfectly comfortable neglecting to give him help on the interior, which lets Rip City focus the defensive efforts where they actually need to go—the perimeter.
And with that, No. 12 has become quite the complete player.
Prediction: In
Even though the West is brimming over with quality backcourt players, Damian Lillard is an absolute lock.
One of the best perimeter shooters in the Association, the young point guard has averaged 22 points, 4.7 rebounds and 6.2 assists per game while improving his defensive chops and emerging as an unquestioned leader for a competitive Blazers squad. He now fully embodies the moniker of floor general his position earns, as he controls the flow of the game and always manages to steer Portland to quite a few points.
According to Basketball-Reference.com, Rip City scores only 99.1 points per 100 possessions when the starting point guard is on the bench (which is admittedly also a testament to the awfulness of the second unit). But when he's on the floor, the Blazers post 110.8 points over the same stretch, essentially turning what would be the No. 29 offense in the NBA into the No. 5 one.
Add in a flair for the dramatic, and you've got yourself an All-Star lock.
Prediction: In
Sacramento Kings: DeMarcus Cousins
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If MVP actually stood for Most Valuable Player and didn't have to go to a player on a successful team, DeMarcus Cousins would receive strong consideration for the award. Not only were the Sacramento Kings so dysfunctional while he was suffering from viral meningitis that they fell out of playoff contention and got Mike Malone replaced by Tyrone Corbin, but Cousins has been arguably the best center in basketball.
Even playing better defense than ever before, the big man fondly referred to as "Boogie" has averaged a sensational 24.2 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.2 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 48.1 percent from the field. Ignoring efficiency, only Hakeem Olajuwon, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (three times) and Kevin Garnett have ever matched those per-contest marks.
According to my FATS projections (based on historical comparisons and fully explained here), the discrepancy between the Kings with Cousins and the team without the star big man is even more jarring than you might expect.
When the center is on the hardwood, Sacramento plays like a 56-win squad. Not a different version of this team from a decade ago, but the same Kings with a relatively moribund roster. Their top statistical match is the 1998-99 Utah Jazz, a 37-13 team that featured Karl Malone and John Stockton. When he sits? Sacramento suddenly becomes a 22-win unit, with the 17-win Chicago Bulls of 1999-00 as the top comparison.
That's value, in a nutshell.
Prediction: Out
San Antonio Spurs: Tim Duncan
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Tim Duncan is by no means a legacy candidate.
Sure, it would be exceedingly strange for the San Antonio Spurs big man to sit out of the festivities two years in a row after participating in 13 of the last 15 All-Star weekends. But thinking he's only here because of his past in the NBA is insulting to a man who's maintained his level of offensive production and served as one of the front-runners for Defensive Player of the Year.
Even at 38 years old, Duncan has the league-leading defensive box plus/minus, per Basketball-Reference.com. He's helping the Spurs allow 4.2 fewer points per 100 possessions than a league-average defender would in his shoes, and no qualified player can boast a more impressive number.
And, as always, his per-minute marks are eerily consistent when compared to those produced in the earlier years of his illustrious career.
Is Duncan's legacy worthy of getting him into the game for potentially the last time? Sure, but it's not necessary, thanks to the fantastic all-around campaign he's submitting while continuing to stave off Father Time.
Prediction: In (Injury replacement for Kobe Bryant)
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