Russell Westbrook, the man averaging a triple-double for the Oklahoma City Thunder this season and a solid pick for NBA MVP, is not starting in the 2017 All-Star Game. Instead, Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and James Harden of the Houston Rockets will be on the floor at tip as Westbrook watches from the bench.
That’s clearly wrong ... right?
Westbrook lost the starting spot thanks to -- brace yourselves -- the fan vote. While players and media had Westbrook atop their voting sheets, fan votes put Westbrook No.3. That tied him with both Curry and Harden, who were Nos. 1 and 2 in the fan vote.
Of course, the fan vote is the tie breaker, which pushed the Thunder star to the reserves.
Meanwhile, the Internet was not happy about it:
Dude averaging a triple double and not starting in the all star game is wild.
— Chandler Parsons (@ChandlerParsons) January 20, 2017
Westbrook is more than halfway to matching a record that hasn’t been approached in more than 50 years. AND leading the league in scoring...
— David Aldridge (@davidaldridgedc) January 20, 2017
Can't wait for Westbrook to check into the All-Star Game and immediately dunk on Steph Curry.
— Andrew Lynch (@AndrewLynch) January 19, 2017
Kevin Garnett on TNT just called Russell Westbrook not starting the All-Star game "the league's all-time history snub."
— Fred Katz (@FredKatz) January 20, 2017
Chuck does not agree with Russell Westbrook being left out of starting lineup...
— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) January 20, 2017
"He deserves to be starting. Plain and simple." pic.twitter.com/39YFquxhIo
How is Russell Westbrook not an all star starter!? He is playing out of his mind.
— Derek Carr (@derekcarrqb) January 19, 2017
Yeah ... Russell Westbrook should be starting.
