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Even though quite a few players where upset the NBA has decided to have their All-Star game. Even if you’re a huge fan of the NBA I’m sure you understand that the All-Star game is a complete joke. Does anyone remember the last time someone tried to play defense in this game? The only real question heading into the game; is will a team finally hit the 200 point mark?

Like in just about every other sport the starters are voted in by the fans, but yesterday the NBA announced the All-Star reserves and just like every year there are players that should’ve been named to the All-Star team, but weren’t. This year however there where two glaring omissions; one in each conference.

In the Eastern conference the reserves are Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, James Harden of the Brooklyn Nets, Julius Randle of the New York Knicks, Ben Simmons of the Philadelphia 76ers, Zach LaVine of the Chicago Bulls and Nikola Vucevic of the Orlando Magic.

In the Western Conference the reserves are Damian Lillard of the Portland Trail Blazers, Donavan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz, Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers, Chris Paul of the Phoenix Suns, Zion Williamson of the New Orleans Pelicans and Anthony Davis of the Los Angeles Lakers.

Since Davis is injured and won’t be ready to play by the time the All-Star game rolls around he’ll be replaced on the team. Which begs the question. why even name him to the team?

Now just like every year there are players that should be on the All-Star team that for one reason or another weren’t name, but this year in particular there are two glaring omissions; one in each conference.

Some how in putting the Eastern conference reserves together they forgot that Domantas Sabonis of the Indiana Pacers is having an All-Star caliber season. Sabonis is averaging 21.5 points per game, 11.5 rebounds per game and 5.7 assists per game. Sabonis is one of just for player to average 20 points a game or more and grab more than 10 rebounds a game, but that wasn’t good enough to be even be an All-Star reserve. The Pacers currently hold the 4th spot in the Eastern conference and Sabonis’ play is the reason they are there.

In the Western conference they again didn’t find a spot on the All-Star team for Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns. Booker is averaging 24.7 points per game, 3.8 rebounds per game and 4.3 assists per game. Just two days ago Booker went for 34 points as his Suns blew out the Portland Trail Blazers 132-100, but I guess Booker’s performance didn’t catch anyone’s eye and he’s on the outside look in for the All-Star game again.

Now there’s always a chance that Sabonis and Booker could end up in the All-Star game due to injuries, but they shouldn’t be stuck waiting to be a replacement for an injured player; they should’ve been named to the team from the outset.

Kevin Mather resigned this week as President/CEO of the Seattle Mariners. Mather made some rather stupid comments about players who’s first language isn’t English and it cost him his job. Now Mather did make one comment that I’m sure Major League Baseball and every other team wish he didn’t say.

The Mariners are in the middle of their rebuild and it looks like a couple of their top prospects Jarred Kelenic and Logan Gilbert have an opportunity to make the big league club this spring. Mather mentioned no matter what neither of these players would start the season with the Major League team and would start in the minors so the team could push these players arbitration clock back a season.

Now this is nothing new to anybody and we knew teams where doing it all along, but they always had some kind of excuse for that top prospect starting the season in the minor leagues. If I remember correctly Kris Bryant and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. had to work on their defense at the minor league level just long enough for that year of arbitration to go back one more season. Unfortunately Mather let the cat out of the bag and admitted that teams do this.

Now the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the owners and the players expires after the 2021 season and if this rule isn’t high on the players list of demands to be changed they need new leadership.

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