Shai Gilgeous-Alexander not named an All-Star starter

The Oklahoma City Thunder are enjoying the breakout they have seen from their max contract point guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. While he has teased this production before, including after the All-Star break last season where he ripped off 13 games of averaging 30 points, almost six rebounds, and seven assists per game while shooting 54 percent from the floor, 39 percent from three, and 80 percent at the line.

While many took note of that hot streak, they figured it was just that. A blazing hot end to his third season in Bricktown. However, that level of production has kept pace through 44 games this season.

The Kentucky product is averaging 30 points per game to go along with nearly five rebounds and five assists per contest. However, it is not just an offensive outburst, Gilgeous-Alexander is getting it done on the defensive side of the floor with nearly two steals and a book per game. All of that ties together with his improved fit next to Josh Giddey.

Surly with such a rise in soring, SGA has been less efficient, right? Wrong. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting 51 percent from the floor, 36 percent from three (2.8 attempts a game), and a career-best 90 percent at the free-throw line on ten attempts per tilt. Gilgeous-Alexander is shooting a career-high at the rim (64 percent), short mid-range (50 percent), and all mid-range attempts (47 percent).

The Oklahoma City Thunder see Shai Gilgeous-Alexander snubbed from the NBA All-Star starting lineup, though will be a look for Salt Lake City

All-Star fan voting has ended and today the NBA announced the starters in each conference for the NBA All-Star game. The starting backcourt will consist of Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, and Golden State Warriors star Steph Curry.

Luka Doncic is averaging 33 points this season with nine rebounds, and eight assists a game. Steph Curry falls just below the 30-points-per-game line with 29 points per contest to go along with six rebounds and as many assists per game.

With the numbers so close, and the fact that Doncic and Curry are both megastars, global icons, it was not in the cards for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander to hold one of the two starting backcourt spots in the Western Conference.

Even despite that, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander likely deserves the nod when you only base it on this season. Sadly, it is a mixture of great players and a popularity contest, and SGA is just not on the level of iconic status that Doncic and Curry are at presently.

Though I would argue this is the biggest snub of the season to not have Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the starting five for the All-Star game, he is a lock to head to Salt Lake City for his first career All-Star appearance.