A number of current and former NBA players voiced their displeasure with Russell Westbrook not being named a Western Conference All-Star starter, despite the Oklahoma City Thunder star averaging a triple-double over his first 44 games this season.
Triple-Doubles
— Enes Kanter (@Enes_Kanter) January 20, 2017
All-Star starters (COMBINED)=19
Russ=21
Nobody deserves to start in the all star game over Russ.
Dude averaging a triple double and not starting in the all star game is wild.
— Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) January 20, 2017
If leading the league in ppg and averaging a triple double isnt good enough lol #sheeesh #PGpositionsnojoke
— Jeremy Lin (@JLin7) January 20, 2017
I know he won't care either way, it's all about the team, but Nobody deserves to start in the all star game over Russ.
— Anthony Morrow (@MrAnthonyMorrow) January 20, 2017
Start over Russ.... Tragic😳
— Cameron Payne (@campayne) January 20, 2017
Kevin Garnett on TNT just called Russell Westbrook not starting the All-Star game "the league's all-time history snub."
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) January 20, 2017
This season, All-Star Game starters were determined by voting from fans (50 percent), current players and media (both 25 percent).
While Westbrook was first in voting among both players and media, he finished third in the fan voting. Stephen Curry, who will start alongside James Harden at guard for the West, finished first.
After being informed Westbrook didn't get the starting nod, Los Angeles Clippers coach Doc Rivers told ESPN: "Fake news. I am just shocked the fans don't see the same thing we see."