These were some glaring omissions from the All-Star Game.
The NBA is filled with so many talented players that picking just 24 to play in the annual All-Star Game is bound to leave some deserving players off the list. For the Chicago Bulls, this has been especially true on several occasions. Let’s take a look at some of the biggest All-Star snubs in team history:
Horace Grant
It will be hard to stand out whenever you’re on a team that employs both Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Perhaps that was the case with power forward Horace Grant, who got left out of the 1992 All-Star Game in Orlando despite averaging a double-double of 14.2 points and 10.0 rebounds, along with incredible defensive numbers of 1.6 blocks and 1.2 steals per game.
As terrific as Jordan and Pippen were on that excellent 1992 Bulls squad that won 67 games in the regular season, they just wouldn’t be as successful without Grant cleaning the glass and doing all the dirty work. Grant was as perfect a complementary player as any during that era—staying in his lane on offense and relentlessly hounding opposing players on defense.
Grant did get to play in the All-Star Game, albeit in 1994 when he got selected to play as a reserve in Minneapolis. With Jordan retiring, Grant and Pippen were the one-two punch that kept the Bulls in contention in the East.
Chet “The Jet” Walker
We won’t blame you if you don’t remember Chet “The Jet” Walker, especially since his career ended back in 1975. However, his All-Star snub in the 1971-1972 season remains one of the most egregious in Bulls’ history. Walker averaged 22.0 points on 50.8% shooting and added 6.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists per game in a spectacular season that helped the Bulls win 57 games.
Unfortunately, only Bob Love, who averaged 25.8 points and 6.6 rebounds made it to that season’s All-Star Game.
Toni Kukoc
As mentioned, playing in the shadows of Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen can be tough, as the spotlight rarely shined on the other players. However, in 1999, the Croatian Sensation finally had the spotlight on himself as the end of the Bulls’ dynasty saw Jordan retire while Pippen went to the Houston Rockets. The savvy lefty averaged 18.8 points, 7.0 rebounds, 5.3 assists, and 1.1 steals per game.
However, the former 6th Man of the Year failed to get an All-Star berth during that season as the Bulls floundered and finished with a woeful 13-37 record.
Source: si.com
