Barkley, guards Rubio, Jennings defend All-Star snub Lillard
There were bound to be some All-Star snubs in the deep Western Conference. And there were - chief among them Portland Trail Blazers point guard Damian Lillard and Sacramento Kings center DeMarcus Cousins.
The basketball world rallied behind Lillard on Thursday after he wasn't among the seven West reserves named to next month's All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden.
Related: Thunder duo Durant, Westbrook selected as ASG reserves
Charles Barkley used a national platform on TNT to voice his displeasure about coaches not choosing Lillard, who's averaging a career-high 21.6 points with 6.2 assists and 4.6 rebounds.
Barkley centered his beef on Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Kevin Durant getting the nod, although he was chosen as a frontcourt reserve. Guards Chris Paul, James Harden, Klay Thompson and Russell Westbrook were all selected over Lillard.
It should be Lillard. Because Ernie (Johnson), we have this argument every year about winning. DeMarcus Cousins, he has two things against him: his attitude and (the Kings aren't) winning. But you can't give me that same argument on Lillard. They got the third-best record in the West, they're winning, they don’t get two All-Stars but a team that’s not even in the playoffs (Thunder) ... if the playoffs started today, we would not see them, and they get two? That’s not right.
Trail Blazers power forward LaMarcus Aldridge was the lone representative chosen for the 32-14 Blazers, who have a nine-game lead over the Thunder in the putrid Northwest Division.
Related: Injury-replacement spots offer hope for ASG snubs
Lillard has the sixth-best player efficiency rating among all NBA point guards, and the five players ahead of him and two directly behind him were all chosen to the All-Star Game.
Damian Lillard was not selected to All-Star Game despite his 21.6 PPG and being the league's top 4th-quarter scorer. pic.twitter.com/JsI9GiHT3u
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) January 30, 2015
Barkley wasn't alone in his sentiments, as injured point guards Ricky Rubio and Brandon Jennings also came to Lillard's defense.
And what about @Dame_Lillard ... He's definitely an AllStar. No doubt.
— Ricky Rubio (@rickyrubio9) January 30, 2015
“@Mustafe_257: @BrandonJennings who was the biggest all start snub?” - Lilliard
— BRANDON JENNINGS (@BrandonJennings) January 30, 2015
Even Portland's police department chimed in.
We may have to open a robbery investigation into how @Dame_Lillard of our @trailblazers was left off the #NBAAllStarNYC roster. #VoteLillard
— Portland Police (@PortlandPolice) January 30, 2015
With Kobe Bryant, who was voted in as a starter, out for the season with a shoulder injury, there's a strong chance Lillard will be selected to his second All-Star Game as a replacement for the Los Angeles Lakers' superstar.