The NBA All Star game is right around the corner. I do not think they should play one. I was on board with them skipping all the random middle of the season things they normally do because this is not a normal season. They need to take every precaution necessary, and sending 30 players and their families to Atlanta for the weekend feels a little careless. But, I will watch, I like that they are doing the Elam ending again and I think a halftime dunk contest has the possibility of being amazing. But, I do have one big issue with the rosters.

Last night they named the starters for each conference and picked the two captains. Most of this was on the up and up. I think LeBron and KD are two excellent choices as captains. I saw that Steph and Kawhi are West starters. I think Embiid and Giannis more than deserve to start for the East. I will be curious to see who the reserves are, and I'm interested to see who the two captains pick for their squads. Again, I have one big time bone to pick, and I am not the only one who feels this way.

The fact that Luka Doncic is a starter for the West, over Damian Lillard, is appalling. I know it is stupid and pointless and who cares, especially this year, about an all star game. I also fully understand that this is a fan vote thing, but come the hell on. Why are some people so obsessed with Luka Doncic? Why do all the major media outlets put this kid on a pedestal? Why are people already calling this kid one of the greatest in the game? Why do some have him as one of the 10 best players in the league right now? How is he on people's MVP ballot at the moment? Luka is a fine player, but I am not a fan because of the media pushing him on me, and his on court attitude. I watched the first round series in the bubble last year, when the Mavs played the Clippers, and rooted so hard for the Clippers. I do not like the Clippers, but I wanted the Mavs, and even more so, Luka, to get beat. And they did. He had one good shot, and played a solid series, but his team got beat in six games, and that has been his lone playoff series to date. Luka Doncic is good, but he is not an MVP caliber player yet. He is not a player that can win you a title yet. He is not one of the ten best players in the league yet.

Doncic is nowhere near as good, or as offensively dominant, as Dame. Damian Lillard is one of the top five players in the league right now. He is the game’s best closer. He has ice water in his veins. He is a problem for opponents. He has dragged this Portland team to playoffs year after year after year, and played in a conference finals. He has beaten Paul George and Russell Westbrook. He took out the Rockets a few years before. He has ended James Harden's seasons many times. He is a bad, bad dude, in the best way possible. People may crush him for his defense, but he is better than Luka on that end. People will point out how they got swept by the Pelicans in AD's second to last year with them. Well, Luka has only won two playoff games. People may say Luka is more exciting. Those people are dead, dead wrong. An all star game is supposed to be a high scoring, fun game with wild shots. I would much rather watch Dame pull up from the logo for a long three than watch Luka dribble the clock out and try to draw a foul on a mid range jumper. I'd rather see Dame drop a sweet dime to LeBron for a dunk than see Luka not get a call he wants, and then endlessly complain to the refs about it. I'd rather see Dame making three after three after three than see Luka try his fade away mid range jumper. Dame is a better, and far more exciting player. He is a much more deserving player too. He has put in his time, paid his dues and earned the rest of the NBA's respect.

Call me a Luka hater all you want. I am. I'm also sick and tired of some NBA fans trying to find their "white savior". It is so annoying. Damian Lillard got robbed of a starting spot, and that stinks. He is so much better than Luka. It is not even close.

Ty

Ty is the Pop Culture editor for SeedSing, the other host of the X Millennial Man Podcast, and the greatest basketball writer on the internet.

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