Lauri Markkanen was among the NBA All-Star Game's biggest snubs. In all fairness, the NBA does not typically give All-Star spots to players on tanking teams, but what made it look worse is not only did the league not send Markkanen to the game when it was looking for replacements, but sent Brandon Ingramn instead, who looked pretty bad when he was out there.
Ingram, once a Jazz trade target, participated in the All-Star Game tournament, the second time he made an appearance, but also the first time he got an All-Star selection in six years. Ingram's talent was never in question, but his health always has been. Because this has been his healthiest season, and the Raptors have made some progress since adding him, he got the nod.
When you look at their stats side by side, it is a little curious that as players, the league favored Ingram.
Ingram's numbers this season: 21.8 points, 5.7 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 47.4% FG%, 36.5 3PT FG%, 52.6% eFG%, 57% TS
Markkanen's numbers this season: 26.7 points, seven rebounds, 2.1 assists, 47.8% FG%, 36.3% 3PT FG%, 55.1% eFG%, 61% TS
The question is not did Ingram deserve an All-Star spot, but rather, did he deserve it over Markkanen? Ingram has had a healthier season - he's played 12 more games than Markkanen - but it's to fair to suggest that the answer is no.
The All-Star Game made it look worse
In what was the most entertaining All-Star Game in what feels like a century, Ingram was among the least impressive of his peers. He appeared in only one of the games, where he didn't make a single shot in three attempts to go with two rebounds and one assist in five minutes of playing time overall.
It's not like he was the biggest name to be featured in such festivities, but come on. Markkanen would have looked better in those minutes. In his lone All-Star appearance, Markkanen put up 13 points and seven rebounds in Salt Lake City.
Ingram having himself a renaissance is a nice story, but he only got the nod over Markkanen because the Raptors are in a different place from the Jazz. That's bound to change next season when the Jazz flip the switch, and it's hard not think Markkanen may not be the only Jazzman representing Utah at the All-Star Game next season.
Ingram is a solid player, hence why Utah tried to get him back in 2024, but choosing over Markkanen looked like a poor decision that could look even worse by the fall.