The NBA All-Star Game should have the best stars in the league.
But that’s disputable since Jamal Murray won’t be part of the game with the best players in the world. Again.
The Canadian star has never made an appearance at an All-Star Game and he is about to turn 27 years old on Feb. 26.
His absence from the event will take place in Indianapolis on Feb. 18, is just ridiculous.
It’s the ultimate snub.
Murray is not just a reigning NBA champion, but also the point guard who orchestrated the Denver Nuggets getting its first ring in June 2023.
He is the same player who continues to run the offence of the reigning champion team.
The Kitchener native also continues to be the perfect fit for teammate and two-time MVP Nikola Jokic, making his life much easier.
Murray, in a press conference on Feb. 2, spoke about the irrefutable argument that makes him an All-Star.
“I think you guys have seen me play at a pretty high level against those same guys who are All-Stars,” Murray said.
The Canadian star holds a ring, unlike some players who will be part of the Western Conference team in the show.
Among them, Devin Booker played in the finals with the Phoenix Suns, who lost back in 2021.
As for the other players, none of them have reached an NBA Final.
Luka Doncic has only participated in the Western Conference Finals with the Dallas Mavericks in 2022.
Just like Doncic, Paul George has only played in the Western Conference Finals with the Los Angeles Clippers in 2021.
Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards have never passed the first round with the Minnesota Timberwolves just like Canadian star Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who didn’t get past the first round with either the Oklahoma City Thunder or the Clippers.
Even considering that a lot of fans, media, and players just take into account the individual talent when it comes to voting for the stars, Murray doesn’t fall far behind.
The Canadian point guard is an elite scorer and playmaker.
He puts on a show with his diverse skills and what differentiates him the most from other stars is that he does all of that in the clutch moments. He is a full-package star.
Some people think Booker and Doncic can be considered better than Jamal Murray in terms of individual quality and even Gilgeous-Alexander right now, given how well he is playing.
But even with that, and even if it all comes down to the performance this season, Murray still deserves an All-Star nod, as he is playing at the same or a better level than Edwards, Towns and George.
In addition to that, Murray’s personal story has a special human value after he overcame a very serious injury.
What else does Murray have to do to make an All-Star Game?