The All-NBA teams have been announced and some of the players who were left out are left to lament.
In what was described as a "historical snub," James Harden of the Houston Rockets did not make even the third team All NBA. While it can be argued that this is because of the sheer congestion at that position, Houston Rockets team site The Dream Shake contends that Harden has several achievements that should have merited some recognition.
"James Harden, who led the NBA in total points, in minutes by more than 200 and free throws made by 165, did not make the All-NBA first, second or third team."Ethan Rothstein of TDS stated. "Harden is the only player in NBA history to have averaged at least 29-7-6 and played all 82 games in a season.
Despite those distinctions, the NBA chose Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook as the guards in the first team, Chris Paul and Damian Lillard in the second team, Kyle Lowry and Klay Thompson on the third team.
It should be noted that Thompson is the only considered "two" guard and that is what the Rockets are fans are after. They believe that the Beard is the best shooting guard in the NBA now and is more deserving than Klay to be on the third team (at least).
Rothstein also brings up the value argument as he mentioned that Klay is only the third best player on his team while Harden "led the Rockets to the playoffs with his supporting cast consisting of Dwight Howard - who admitted to not trying - a so/so Trevor Ariza, a tire fire in Ty Lawson, and a rotating cast of characters at power forward so terrible that Ariza started double-digit games at the four."
But Harden and the Rockets fans are not the only ones in mourning. Anthony Davis takes a big hit at his bank account-to the amount of $24 million over the duration of his five-year contract.
Since he was not voted into any of the All-NBA teams, Davis fails to qualify for the Derrick Rose rule. This is explained by John Reid of NOLA.com.
"One of the stipulations in the five-year, $145 million extension Davis signed last summer is that he had to be voted again as a starter in the NBA All-Star Game or make All-NBA first, second or third team - to start the maximum deal at 30 percent of the league's salary as opposed to 25 percent, which is known as the Rose rule."
Thus, the $145 million, five year contract computed at 30% will drop to $ 121 million (25%).
Davis was an All-Star but he was not voted to become a starter. Thus, making the All-NBA teams became imperative.
It may sound unfair that awards based on media votes and starting at the All-Star games (which are based on fan votes) will determine the salary of players, but these are the rules and they have yet to be amended.