NBA All-Star Game 2015: DeMarcus Cousins Snubbed Big Time from Starting Roster

With the unveiling of the NBA All-Star Game roster, it's apparent that for players like Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins, it's not about the actual quality of play. The voting results showed that when it comes to the fans' opinion, it's more about celebrity, rather than the ability and performances of players. There were other snubs as well, but Cousins severely deserved a spot.

Here are the reasons why Cousins should've been selected, and who he should replace.

Offense

Cousins is averaging 24.0 points per game this season, strong enough for fourth-best in the NBA. Cousins has been the top scorer for the Kings, and without his presence, the Kings frontcourt wouldn't have an identity. 

Cousins has teamed up well with forward Rudy Gay to create a powerful duo for the Kings offensively, but while Gay can offer versatility, Cousins is the anchor of the frontcourt. 

Like most great centers, Cousins has a knack for being the literal center of the offense, and this allows him to average 3.2 assists per game, which is fifth in the NBA for centers.

Also like most great centers, he enjoys ruthlessly posterizing players like Mason Plumlee.

Defense

Cousins produces just under a fourth of Sacramento's average 101.7 points per game, and while he's vital to the offense, he's just as important on defense.

Cousins averages 12.7 rebounds per game, which is the league's third best. Cousins is a force around the basket defensively, with an average of 9.5 of his 12.7 rebounds being on the defensive glass. 

A recent example of his rebounding prowess is the 19 rebounds (15 rebounds being defensive boards) he grabbed in the Kings 98-94 loss against the Portland Trail Blazers on Monday, a season high.

This is not to mention his ability to make plays on defense as well. Cousins averages 1.7 blocks per game, and his ability to use his 6'11", 270-pound stature to swat attempts has been an important part of his defensive game.

And while Cousins is big, he's uncharacteristically coordinated on the defensive side of the ball. He's quick with his feet and hands, and that shows with his 1.3 steals a game, third in the NBA among centers

Importance to the Kings

In the 12 games that DeMarcus Cousins has missed this season, the Sacramento Kings went 2-10. That record is staggering, and produces a meager .167 percent win percentage. When Cousins is starting for the Kings, they are 14-16 and their winning percentage is .467 percent. 

This comparison speaks volume to how important Cousins is as a player and a leader.

Who Cousins Should Replace

New Orleans Pelicans power forward Anthony Davis, Memphis Grizzlies center Marc Gasol and Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin were the players voted into the All-Star Game for the West's frontcourt.

Davis is on another level than anyone else at his position right now, and both Gasol and Griffin are decent picks, but Cousins is more deserving than the latter two.

Here's a table of Gasol's, Griffin's and Cousins' stats this season:

	Cousins	Gasol	Griffin
Points Per Game	24.0	19.3	23.0
Rebounds Per Game	12.7	8.2	7.6
Blocks Per Game	1.7	1.7	0.4
Field Goal Percentage	48.1%	50.1%	50.1%
Steals Per Game	1.3	0.9	1.0
Free Throw Percentage	80.3%	80.6%	72.5%
Minutes Per Game	33.8	34.8	35.4
Assists Per Game	3.2	3.7	4.9

While the comparisons are relatively close, the weakest overall of the three is Griffin. 

Griffin is able to edge Cousins in a few parts of the game. However, Cousins dominates Griffin in the stats that matter. Cousins still scores more than Griffin each game despite his shooting percentage, and is also a better post player in general, evidenced by his domination in the rebounds, blocks and steals categories.

Griffin is a solid player who's having a good year, but Cousins has outperformed him overall and should be in the NBA All-Star Game. Even Griffin recognizes that Cousins deserves a spot, according to an interview with James Ham of Cowbell Kingdom:

"

“Absolutely,” forward Blake Griffin told Cowbell Kingdom when asked if Cousins is an All-Star.  “The way he’s played is incredible and you can’t deny his production, his numbers. You saw what happened when he wasn’t playing, but I say this every year—there are guys that deserve to play in the All-Star Game that unfortunately don’t get to play in the All-Star Game.” 

"

When it comes to a marketable, big-name player like Griffin, however, he will always win the votes. Griffin is popular and exciting, and a name that even people who don't watch or care about basketball can recognize.

Danny Moloshok/Associated Press

This is unfair to Cousins, but it is how the system works. It takes away from the value of an NBA All-Star selection, but that is the price you pay when you leave the voting up to understandably-biased fans. 

As unfair as it is, this is not unfamiliar to Cousins. Cousins was undeservedly snubbed last year as well. What's disappointing about the this year's snub is that he's playing even better than the last, both statistically and as a teammate.

Cousins is a fantastic center who's having an incredible season, and his snubbing from the All-Star starting lineup is disappointing. However, Cousins will probably make it as a reserve, a small consolation for one of the best in the league, but he'll be able to play in Brooklyn nonetheless.

All stats were found at stats.nba.com unless otherwise stated.

Evan Reier is a first-year journalism major at the University of Alabama and a member of Bleacher Report's APSM program. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier.