James Harden has been a perennial All-Star for the last decade. He made it to 10 consecutive All-Star teams, winning multiple All-NBA First Team selections and the MVP as well. When he was in Houston, all of this was a no-brainer, but since he has been traded, things have gotten a bit more complex.
James Harden’s scoring numbers are not what they used to be back in the day. He can still put up huge stats, but he focuses a lot on his facilitating and playmaking, especially since he joined the Sixers. And it seems the coaches that vote for the All-Star Reserves don’t think he’s that guy anymore, with the Beard being left out of the All-Star Game for the first time in 11 years.
Both James Harden and his superstar partner Joel Embiid seemed to be majorly ticked off after he was left off the team. It’s understandable, too, considering that Harden is averaging over 21 points and nearly 11 assists per game this season, and the Sixers are winning. And now his Head Coach, Doc Rivers, has spoken out about it as well, talking to the Philadelphia Enquirer.
“I don’t get involved in that stuff a lot,” Rivers told The Inquirer following the 76ers’ shootaround in San Antonio, a setting where coaches typically do not speak to the media. ” … I didn’t even think it would be a question [that Harden would be selected]. And for him not to be on the All-Star team when, at the time that voting went in, we were the second seed — Boston has two, Milwaukee has two, we have one.
The Sixers have a case to be considered the second-best team in the Eastern Conference, so it’s easy to understand where Doc is coming from. And he went on to suggest that maybe the process needs some reform after this result.
Doc Rivers Says Coaches’ Votes Should Be Made Public
The All-Star starters are voted in using a combination of votes from fans, players, and the media. The reserves, however are selected by the NBA’s coaches. And Rivers has wondered if the votes should be made public after this snub.
“I think your record should matter, I think James Harden’s numbers should matter and I do think a history of his work should matter. This is maybe something that we should consider having coaches votes’ public. … This never should have happened.”
Every year there are snubs from the All-Star game, and their teammates and coaches are upset about it. This is nothing new, and it’s unlikely that Rivers saying this is actually going to change anything. It is objectively a little sad to see Harden’s long streak of All-Star selections come to an end, though.
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