NBA commissioner Adam Silver predicted the NBA All-Star draft order would leak.
He was right.
The complete starter round and one pick in to the reserves was already reported. Now, the intriguing final pick has been revealed – LaMarcus Aldridge, preceded by Al Horford.
Chris Haynes of ESPN:Aldridge was the last player chosen by LeBron James’ team, and Boston Celtics power forward Al Horford was the last pick by Stephen Curry’s team, league sources told ESPN’s Chris Haynes.
“We’re all All-Stars, so, at the end of the day, we should be thankful to be here,” Aldridge told ESPN. “Picked first, picked last, it doesn’t matter. We’re all competitive, too. It won’t be the easiest thing to be picked last, but at the end of the day, you’re just happy to be here.”
Aldridge is right: He’s not flashy, and that’s a key reason he was picked last. Relatedly, he plays a post-up style that slows the pace of the game and can be unsatisfying for teammates to stand around and watch. And he’s not as good as other All-Stars.
But his attitude is definitely the right one: He’s an NBA All-Star, one of just 28 in the entire world. That matters far more than how LeBron James and Stephen Curry rate him.
Aldridge’s ability to take this in stride is just another reason the All-Star draft should have been televised – and should be in future years, if the league keeps this format.