With the All-Star starters having officially been announced, talking points have shifted to predicting which players might be named as reserves.
With the media deciding which players get in, things will surely get interesting when the final roster spots get revealed next week.
Already, though, some controversy has arisen, and it involves a comment Charles Barkley said in a recent segment of Inside the NBA. When discussing his picks for the All-Star reserves, he boldly explained why Jordan Clarkson deserves a spot over Lakers superstar Anthony Davis.
“He’s been the best bench player in the NBA this year,” Barkley said of Clarkson. “They (the Jazz) got the best record in the NBA. Most people don’t notice that he has been fantastic this year. That’s why I got him on my list. … He (Davis) has not played like an All-Star. This ain’t a lifetime achievement award. … We’re talking about who’s having the best year, not who’s the better player.”
Chuck said Jordan Clarkson is having a better season than Anthony Davis.
(via @NBAonTNT) https://t.co/0EePVm5kad
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 19, 2021
To be fair, Clarkson is having a pretty exceptional campaign. With season averages of 18.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists on 45.3% shooting, he is a front runner for Sixth Man of the Year. The Jazz, who are 24-5 this season, are currently the NBA’s best team.
Compare that to Davis, who has been in and out of the lineup, and it’s clear to see what Barkley’s line of thinking is.
If All-Star selections are to be made based on off-season performance instead of weighing individual talent, then Clarkson certainly has a chance.
But, for now, nobody should hold their breath on it happening, and the NBA community doesn’t seem very convinced. Davis is just too good, and he just so happens to play for basketball’s most popular franchise.
