The NBA recently announced their All-NBA teams, naming the 15 best players in the league.
Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid were named First Team All-NBA. The second team consists of Stephen Curry, Donovan Mitchell, Jaylen Brown, Jimmy Butler, and Nikola Jokic. And Damian Lillard, De’Aaron Fox, LeBron James, Julius Randle, and Domantas Sabonis round out the third team.
The current format is still two guards, two forwards, and one center, so some might say it’s not the 15 best players. However, starting the 2023-24 season, the teams will be positionless, comprising truly of the 15 best players in the NBA.
While all of the players are very much deserving of being named to one of the All-NBA teams, others were left off the list who were just as deserving.
Here are the three players The Game Day thinks Were Snubbed from the All-NBA Team.
Ja Morant, G, Memphis Grizzlies
An argument can be made that Ja Morant should’ve been as high as Second Team All-NBA, but alas, he sits on the outside looking in. His off-the-court issues definitely played a part in the voting, which shouldn’t have been the case.
Morant played more games this season (61) than Curry (56), Lillard (58), and LeBron (55), all who were named to an All-NBA team. The Memphis guard finished the season averaging 26.2 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 8.1 assists on 46.6 percent shooting.
Among the six guards that made an All-NBA team, Morant ranks sixth in points (10th in the NBA), third in rebounds, first in assists (fifth in the NBA), and sixth in field goal percentage. Morant also helped lead his team to the number two seed in the Western Conference, while three of the six All-NBA guards missed the playoffs.
Morant finished with 44 total points, the most for guards not voted All-NBA and third overall amongst players.
Lauri Markkanen, F, Utah Jazz
After the year Lauri Markkanen had, he should’ve at least made All-NBA third team. But instead, he’s on the outside looking in. Along with making his first All-Star appearance this year, Markkanen also brought home the Most Improved Player award.
In his first year with the Jazz, Markkanen averaged 25.6 points, 8.6 rebounds, 1.9 assists, and shot 49.9 percent from the field and 39.1 percent from deep. In addition, he improved his PPG by 10.8, RPG by 2.9, and field goal percentage by 5.4 percent. Though the Jazz didn’t find much success this season, Markkanen was the reason they were competitive.
Compared to the other forwards on the All-NBA teams, Markkanen was fifth in points, fourth in rebounds, fourth in field goal percentage, and first in three-point percentage. He’s also fourth in win shares with 8.2.
Markkanen finished with 49 total points, the most for forwards not voted All-NBA and second overall amongst players.
Anthony Davis, C, Los Angeles Lakers
The primary knock voters had against Anthony Davis this season was the number of games he played, as injuries limited him to 56 games. However, when fully healthy, Davis is one of the best players in the NBA.
Davis finished with 65 total points toward All-NBA voting, the most among players not voted in. He averaged 25.9 points, 12.5 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 2 blocks, and 1.1 steals.
Compared to the other centers voted to an All-NBA team (Embiid, Jokic, and Sabonis), Davis should’ve at least made third-team All-NBA. Amongst the four, Davis was second in points, first in rebounds, fourth in assists, first in blocks, second in steals, and third in field goal percentage.
Davis does it on both ends of the court, being someone you don’t want to defend on offense and someone you wish wasn’t defending you on defense.
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