The 5 Most shocking NBA All-Star snubs: Kareem Abdul Jabbar, Bradley Beal, and more

Every January, the NBA All-Star roster announcement ignites a wildfire of snub debate. While some fans show disappointment due to their bias, some were flat-out historic robberies. They weren’t just any players, but were MVP candidates and 30-point scorers who were left out of a night when the league's finest assembled. From Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s legendary 1978 exclusion to Damian Lillard's snub for 2 consecutive years, these are the moments where the voting process seemingly broke. Whether it was legacy picks, team records, or personal vendettas, these five superstars were done dirty, and the record books still haven't forgotten.

1. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (1977-78)

Imagine being the reigning MVP, finishing fourth in MVP voting that current year, making All-NBA Second Team, and not being an All-Star. That was Kareem in '78. After a 20-game suspension for punching Kent Benson, voters held a grudge despite his dominance (25.8 PPG, 12.9 RPG). It remains the only season in his 20-year career where he wasn't an All-Star.

2. Bradley Beal (2019-20)

Beal in 2019-20 was averaging a dominating 30.5 PPG, the second-highest scoring average in the league, thats eason. But those averages weren’t enough to grant him a spot on the All-Star roster. Voters blamed the Wizards' losing record, but ignoring a 30-point scorer made it clear how the likeability rules higher than talent.

3. John Stockton (1987-88)

Stockton led the league with 13.8 assists and 14.7 points while shooting 57% from the floor in the 1987-88 season. He finished top 10 in the MVP voting and made All-NBA Second Team, yet somehow wasn't deemed as one of the best guards in the West for the February showcase of All-Star.

4. Damian Lillard (2015-16 & 2016-17)

In 2016, Lillard averaged 27 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 5.9 assists. But the Western Conference was stacked with big names, and Damian Lillard failed to secure a spot for himself. But these mid-2010s snubs became legendary as they birthed Post-All-Star Break Dame, wherein his performance on the court elevates significantly post-All-Star.

5. Rod Strickland (1997-98)

Strickland is the poster child for the best players to never make an All-Star game." In 1998, he led the league in assists with an average of 10.5 APG, while proving to be the engine behind the Wizards' roster. With the West full of stars like MJ and Penny Hardaway, Strickland didn’t make it to the All-Star court. But at the end of the year, he was named to the All-NBA Second Team. Fans often attribute this snub to his lack of marketability like the other 90s guards.








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