The Utah Jazz were robbed of having an All-Star this season, with their best and most rightful pick, Lauri Markkanen, getting snubbed from the selection. He didn't make the starting lineup for the West, with Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks), Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder), Kevin Durant (Phoenix Suns), LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers) and Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets) getting the starting five nod.
Durant and James are the two likeliest to not be starters. James isn't having a season I would say is better than Markkanen's, and both men's teams are right around the same record. If that record isn't enough for Markkanen to get in, why would it be for those two? Now, they're legendary players, and they will get the benefit just because of how big their names are.
As for the reserves, however, Markkanen deserves a shot as much, if not more than Paul George and Kawhi Leonard, and if not them, at the very least Karl-Anthony Towns.
Markkanen is leagues more impressive than Towns, but Markkanen got left off the roster. Yet, somehow, Doc Rivers of the Milwuakee Bucks, with one whole win as coach of the club, is the Eastern Conference coach. Somehow this is just wrong.
Markkanen will now sit at home, resting, as opposed to playing in the game which may be a good thing. While it's likely he will get called to replace Leonard, George, James, or Durant, the rest may be good for them. Yet, their age, they may be looking to sit this one out, or may be forced due to their mounting injuries, so Markkanen may still get a shot at playing in the game.
And truthfully, it's just the recognition we want for Markkanen, it's not even so much about seeing him on the team, just the ability to say he's a two-time All-Star. That would be wonderful, but sadly, that's not going to be the case this year.
For now.