2023-06-12 06:55:00
Jamal Murray is currently playing big in the Finals, even though the Canadian has never been an All-Star. This will probably change soon, others are less fortunate. Here are the top 10 retired players who have never been selected to the All-Star Team.
Such a list is of course always very subjective. We tried to find a mix between longevity and peak. Before we get started, a few more names that missed the cut.
- Marcus Camby
- Jamal Crawford
- Derek Harper
- Al Jefferson
- Eddie Johnson
- Andre Miller
- Sam Perkins
- Jason Richardson
10th place: Toni Kukoc (1993-2006)
- State Career: 11.6 points, 4.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists at 44.7 percent FG and 33.5 percent threes in 26.3 minutes (846 games)
- Teams: Chicago Bulls, Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Atlanta Hawks
The Spider from Split is a difficult case. The forward spent many of his good years in Europe, playing in his prime in one of the best teams of all time in the NBA and coming off the bench for the majority of games for the Bulls.
The Croat posted his best numbers when Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Dennis Rodman left Chicago. Still, it’s hard to take a Hall of Famer like Kukoc off this list, his impact on basketball was too big for that.
Platz 9: Richard Jefferson (2001-2018)
- State Career: 12.6 points, 4.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists at 46.4 percent FG and 37.6 percent threes in 29.0 minutes (1,181 games)
- Teams: New Jersey Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, San Antonio Spurs, Golden State Warriors, Utah Jazz, Dallas Mavericks, Cleveland Cavaliers, Denver Nuggets
The forward was in the top 10 in All-Star voting a few times, but was mostly overshadowed by Jason Kidd and later Vince Carter in New Jersey. Nevertheless, RJ consistently scored between 15 and 22 points on average for many years. In his prime, an athletic monster that might play on either side of the field.
In addition, his game aged quite well despite dwindling athleticism, so that Jefferson still played a solid role in the Cleveland Cavaliers championship at almost 36 years of age.
Platz 8: Mike Bibby (1998-2012)
- State Career: 14.7 points, 3.1 rebounds and 5.5 assists at 43.6 percent FG and 37.9 percent threes in 33.9 minutes (1,001 games)
- Teams: Vancouver Grizzlies, Sacramento Kings, Atlanta Hawks, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, New York Knicks
- Chris Webber, Vlade Divac, and even Peja Stojakovic – they all became All-Stars during the Sacramento Kings’ post-millennium heyday, with only Bibby failing despite having playoff streaks in which he was the best player in the King’s was.
The point guard combined scoring and playmaking at his best, and the former No. 2 pick from the draft might run hot at any time and was one of the best downtown shooters of his era.
7th place: Lamar Odom (1999-2013)
- State Career: 13.3 points, 8.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists at 46.3 percent FG and 31.2 percent threes in 33.4 minutes (961 games)
- Teams: L.A. Clippers, Miami Heat, Los Angeles Lakers, Dallas Mavericks
- A victim of the bulging power forward position in his prime. Tim Duncan, Dirk Nowitzki and Kevin Garnett were subscription all-stars, and in his early years there were still excellent forwards like Rasheed Wallace and Chris Webber.
Odom was also a bit ahead of his time, so he didn’t really fit a position. As a big point forward, he brought many things to the table. However, the throw was not his thing. At the age of 30, his career came to an end too early with the inglorious stint in Dallas. Twice champion with the Lakers and sixth man of the year once.
Platz 6: Bryon Scott (1983-1997)
- State Career: 14.1 points, 2.8 rebounds and 2.5 assists at 48.2 percent FG and 37.0 percent threes in 28.1 minutes (1,073 games)
- Teams: Los Angeles Lakers, Indiana Pacers, Vancouver Grizzlies
Scott tends to be forgotten when talking regarding the Showtime Lakers. Magic Johnson, Kareem, James Worthy and even Michael Cooper (another interesting contender for this list) are mostly mentioned before Scott, who was more of a specialist at first – but a damn good one.
40 percent from downtown was not uncommon for the noble shooter, later he operated more with the ball in his hand himself. Scott won three titles with the Lakers.
Platz 5: Ron Harper (1986-2001)
- State Career: 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds and 3.9 assists at 44.6 percent FG and 28.9 percent threes in 30.9 minutes (1,009 games)
- Teams: Cleveland Cavaliers, L.A. Clippers, Chicago Bulls, Los Angeles Lakers
Today, Harper is best known for roleplaying on the big Bulls teams with Jordan and Pippen, but before those times, Harper was a real star. His problem: He played for the Cavs and then the Clippers, who were ridiculed.
Harper doesn’t hold grudges, his five rings with Chicago and the Lakers were compensation enough. In his best season as a rookie (!), Harper averaged almost 23 points.
Platz 4: Rod Strickland (1988-2005)
- State Career: 13.2 points, 3.7 rebounds and 7.2 assists at 45.4 percent FG and 28.2 percent threes in 30.7 minutes (1,094 games)
- Teams: New York Knicks, San Antonio Spurs, Portland Trail Blazers, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat, Minnesota Timberwolves, Orlando Magic, Toronto Raptors, Houston Rockets
Between 1993 and 1998 Strickland averaged 18 points and 9.4 assists, only John Stockton was better in this period. Strickland was extremely fast, had an outstanding handle and a good finish for his size. Only the throw was always a problem.
The competition for Strickland in his Prime was also problematic. Jordan, Gary Payton, Stockton and Tim as well as Penny Hardaway were hard to beat. In 1998 Strickland was then selected to the All-NBA Second Team without having attended the All-Star Game.
Platz 3: Drazen Petrovic (1989-1993)
- State Career: 15.4 points, 2.3 rebounds and 2.4 assists at 50.6 percent FG and 43.7 percent threes in 26.4 minutes (290 games)
- Teams: Portland Trail Blazers, New Jersey Nets
At the time of his death on the A9 near Ingolstadt, Petrovic was just 28 years old and had just established himself as a star in the USA. The “Mozart of basketball” had previously swept through Europe and was now one of the NBA’s best shooting guards before his fatal accident.
There was no All-Star participation for him, although he was elected to the All-NBA Third Team at the end of the 1992/93 season. After difficult early years in Potland, Petrovic averaged 22.3 points in his fifth NBA season with strong odds of 52 percent from the field and 45 percent from a distance.
Platz 2: Cedric Maxwell (1977-1988)
- State Career: 12.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 2.2 assists at 54.6 percent FG in 28.5 minutes (835 games)
- Team: Boston Celtics, L.A. Clippers, Houston Rockets
We also have a Finals MVP on sale. In 1981 “Cornbread” actually prevailed once morest teammate Larry Bird, and for the second title in 1984 the award went to “Larry Legend”. Maxwell was an excellent low post scorer with lots of moves. He might throw the hook with both hands.
Already in his sophomore season, Maxwell put on 19 and 9 before Bird transformed the Celtics. The forward became the third option behind Bird and Tiny Archibald, but a damn good one. Because of Maxwell, a later Hall of Famer like Kevin McHale only had to come off the bench for a long time.
Place 1: Arvydas Sabonis (1995-2003)
- State Career: 12.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 blocks at 50.0 percent FG and 32.8 percent threes in 24.2 minutes (470 games)
- Team: Portland Trail Blazers
When Sabonis came to the NBA at the age of 30, his prime was already behind him. A Blazers doctor, for example, suggested that Sabonis might get a handicap spot just because of his x-rays. And yet the Lithuanian was immediately one of the best centers in the league – and that at a time when Shaq, Olajuwon, Ewing or Robinson were up to mischief.
Sabonis was different. He was 2.21 meters tall, had excellent touch and read the game like hardly any center before him. Even following all his injuries, Sabonis averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds in 1997-98. He has also been in the Hall of Fame since 2011. Here is the legendary story of Arvydas Sabonis.
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