The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Is Rudy Gobert’s All-Star snub the worst in recent memory?

By Josh Padmore

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 27: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 27, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) (EDITORS NOTE this image has been converted to black and white)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - JANUARY 27: Rudy Gobert #27 of the Utah Jazz prepares to shoot a free throw during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on January 27, 2019 at Target Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by David Sherman/NBAE via Getty Images) (EDITORS NOTE this image has been converted to black and white) /
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Portland Trail Blazers
Damian Lillard Portland Trail Blazers (Photo by Sam Forencich/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Damian Lillard, 2017

Damian Lillard has been snubbed from the All-Star Game multiple times throughout his career. The most notable snub came in 2017. The Portland Trail Blazers were under-performing by the time the All-Star reserves were announced, but still, that is the season in which Lillard averaged a career-high 27 points per game.

Sure, the Blazers were under .500 at that time, but so are the current Orlando Magic. Despite their 21-31 record, Nikola Vucevic was voted in as a reserve in the Eastern Conference.

Lillard was prolific during the 2016-17 season. He scored 30+ points on 27 different occasions, and provided the Jazz with one of their worst memories over the last few seasons. Remember when he dropped 59 points against Utah when they were fighting for home-court advantage in the first round of the 2017 NBA Playoffs? The Jazz ultimately didn’t need that home-court advantage, but man, what a performance by Dame.

Compared to Gobert’s snub this year, it’s tough. I’d side with Gobert, though. Looking back at the 2017 Western Conference All-Star roster, many players deserved it. Former Jazz star Gordon Hayward deserved it over Lillard, in my opinion, given the Jazz’ success and his breakout year. Klay Thompson and Russell Westbrook were the other guards, which you can’t really argue about. That was the year where Russell Westbrook won the MVP, as a matter of fact.

At the end of the day, Gobert not making it over Karl-Anthony Towns and LaMarcus Aldridge is far more blasphemous than Lillard not making it over Hayward, Westbrook and Thompson in 2017.

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