Three big NBA All-Star Game starter snubs

There are many great players represented on that list, including the MVP winners from the last five years and the all-time NBA scoring leader. Still, there were a few deserving players who easily could have been named starters in their own rights.

1. Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

Brunson had a breakout season in 2022-23 and this year the New York Knicks guard has been even better, averaging 26.6 points per game, 6.5 assists and 1.0 steal, while shooting 42.3% from three-point range - all career-high marks. Brunson is the best player on a red-hot Knicks team that has won five straight games and is on track to get home-court advantage in the first round.

While Indiana's Tyrese Haliburton was a clear-cut choice to start, finishing first in the player vote, media vote and fan vote, Brunson was the victim of Damian Lillard's popularity. Despite being second in the media vote and third in the player vote, Brunson couldn't overcome Lillard's fan-vote advantage. Players had Dame Time fourth and the media had him fifth, but because the fan vote counts for 50% - and serves as the tiebreaker - Lillard drew Brunson's rightful starting spot.

Brunson scores more on better efficiency than Lillard. He's also much better on defense, whereas Lillard has been a huge part of the Bucks' defensive decline. Brunson additionally got the all-important endorsement of Charles Barkley.

2. Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers

Perhaps the Clippers' slow start and some injury-plagued years made voters forget how good Kawhi Leonard was. But he's been healthy in 2023-24 and a force on both ends.

Leonard is averaging 23.7 points per game on tremendous efficiency. He is making 52% of his shots from the field, 44% from three-point range and 88% of his free throws. While his team had a slow start in acclimating to the addition of James Harden, the Clippers have gone 20-4 since Dec. 1.

"The Claw" is scoring with ease on offense and clamping down on defense this season. When Leonard is on the floor, L.A. holds its opponents to 9.8 fewer points per 100 possessions, a huge number. Defense isn't glamorous for All-Star voters, but the rejuvenated Leonard deserves to start.

3. Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

Two factors contributed to Anthony Davis' omission as an All-Star Game starter. His team is only at .500 and he shares the frontcourt with LeBron James.

"The Brow" is having his best season in years. He's also having his healthiest season in years, playing in 44 of the Lakers' 46 games. He's grabbing 12.2 rebounds – which is third in the NBA – and blocking 2.3 shots, good for fifth. Davis draws a ton of fouls, shooting over nine free throws a game and making them at an 81% clip.

While James is one of the greatest players of all time, this year Davis is having the better season. Davis is scoring more points than James while taking fewer shots, with better efficiency numbers on offense and defense. Shockingly, he has even played 12 percent more minutes than James. Davis will almost certainly be an All-Star, but his season deserves a starting spot.