Monta Ellis: An All-Star in 2012

Monta Ellis could barely watch the banners that honor all the all-stars in franchise history. Golden State has been on the record of 14 straight years without having an all-star with Latrell Sprewell as their last, way back in 1997.

With the recent announcement of all-star reserves, it looks like the drought will be in for another year, another setback with an added pile of a mountain of frustrations to the franchise.

Monta was their only chance, a glance or a flicker of light to a team hovered with dark clouds. The Warriors needed the boost. They knew how good Ellis is. He can shoot and drive to the basket at will. They couldn’t count the times Monta single-handedly saved them on crucial baskets. He is No. 6 in the league in points (25.1) with 5.6 assists per game.

But still they wondered how the league failed to recognize such a scoring threat. Maybe because the Warriors have struggled this season. Perhaps Ellis was snubbed like Kevin Love in Minnesota, who has averaged a double-double with 21.4 points and 15.5 rebounds (which leads Dwight Howard in the rebounding department). Still, Love’s team dwells in the bottom of the Western Conference with only 11 wins with 38 losses.

Kobe Bryant and the West coach Gregg Popovich had acknowledged Monta’s offensive power. They knew how hard it is to play Ellis in the open court. Year after year Ellis puts up an all-star performance, but year after year they still continue to snub him. It is sometimes mind-boggling knowing the definition of an all-star game is “made up entirely of outstanding performers.” There are many deserving players and certainly Monta leads that pack.

Monta Ellis knows that time will come his name will be right there on the reserved list on the all-star roster. No more drought and with his name etched on a banner beside the legendary names of Rick Barry and Wilt Chamberlain.

I don’t know if 2012 would be the end of the world…but I know for sure Monta Ellis will be an all-star, rightfully and deservedly so.