7 Worst All-Star Game snubs in Los Angeles Lakers history

Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers
Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Los Angeles Lakers | James Drake/GettyImages
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No. 7: Vlade Divac, 1994-95

The 1994-95 Los Angeles Lakers were not at the height of their powers. The Showtime era had run its course, and the Lakers were on the cusp of signing Shaquille O'Neal and drafting Kobe Bryant over the next couple of years. Yet it was hardly a disastrous time; the Lakers would win 48 games and win a series in the playoffs.

That level of team often gets just one All-Star, and that's fine. The problem is that the Lakers had two players who were deserving of an All-Star selection. The snub came from two directions: the Lakers should have two All-Stars, but barring that, the wrong player was selected to represent the team at All-Star Weekend.

Cedric Ceballos was a prolific player for the Lakers that season, a high-scoring forward who led the Lakers in scoring at 21.7 points per game. He chipped in eight rebounds and shot 39.7 percent from deep on limited volume. The issue was that he nearly gave it all back on defense.

Vlade Divac, by contrast, did everything for the Lakers. He averaged just 16 points but added 10.4 rebounds, 4.1 assists, 1.4 steals, 2.2 blocks and elite defense. He accrued 4.1 wins over replacement per VORP, good for 16th in the NBA and by far the highest on the team. Yet again the All-Star voters bowed down at the altar of points and ignored the true All-Star of the Lakers that year.

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