NBA All-Star Game 2016: Least-Deserving Starter, Top Snubs After Lineups Reveal

Brian MaziqueJan 22, 2016

The starters for the 2016 NBA All-Star Game have been announced, and, as usual, there are guys who were unfairly snubbed, and one particular player made the team after a less-than-stellar first half of the season.

Here's a look at the starters for the Eastern and Western conferences, and a closer look at the biggest snubs and least-deserving starter:

Eastern Conference Starters

Western Conference Starters

Backcourt

Steph Curry
Russell Westbrook

Frontcourt

Least-Deserving Starter

Kobe Bryant

Mark J. Terrill/Associated Press

Fans were dead set on sending the retiring Kobe Bryant to the All-Star Game in his final season. It's understandable. We've seen similar situations with Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson in the past.

However, from a pure statistical standpoint, the Sacramento Kings' DeMarcus Cousins and the New Orleans Pelicans' Anthony Davis are just two of a litany of Western Conference frontcourt players who were more deserving of a starting spot.

Bryant is averaging 16.3 points per game and shooting just 34 percent from the field. That's not too bad for a 37-year-old in his 20th NBA season, but it's certainly not All-Star-worthy.

Top Snubs

Jimmy Butler

Allen Einstein/Getty Images

Butler is the best shooting guard in the NBA. It's just that simple. The Golden State Warriors' Klay Thompson is a better shooter, but he can't penetrate and post up like Butler. Thompson gets a lot of credit for his defense, but he's not as dynamic on that end of the floor as Butler.

Overall, Butler can do more things to help his team win. He's just not playing on a team that is as talented or unified on both ends of the floor.

James Harden is a volume shooter who puts up big scoring numbers, but he's far from efficient. He shoots just 41 percent from the field and turns the ball over 4.7 times per game. Despite shooting the ball three more times per game than Butler, Harden averages just five more points (27.6 to 22.4).

Defensively, there's no contest. Butler is an elite defender, and oftentimes that end of the floor is an afterthought for Harden.

With all that said, Butler isn't a starter on the Eastern Conference All-Star team, despite being far and away the best 2-guard in the conference, and arguably the NBA. There's no guard in the East who has had a better first half than Butler.

Andre Drummond

Allen Einstein/Getty Images

It's true, Andre Drummond is a horrendous free-throw shooter, and if he wants to become the best center in the NBA—which is a distinction within his grasp—he's got to get better in that area.

That said, the Motown Mastodon is still leading the league in rebounding by almost two boards per game. The 22-year-old is also averaging a career high in points (17.6) and steals (1.6). He'll challenge Kawhi Leonard for Defensive Player of the Year honors, but he's not starting in the All-Star Game.

It's hard to say Carmelo Anthony isn't deserving of a starting spot—which is why he isn't accompanying Bryant in the previous section. However, if I had to choose between him and Drummond for the final frontcourt spot in the Eastern Conference, the big man would get my vote.

All stats per ESPN.com.