NBA Chicago Bulls

5 Reasons Why Pau Gasol Shouldn’t Be An NBA All-Star Starter

5 Reasons Why Pau Gasol Shouldn't Be An NBA All-Star Starter

Pau Gasol
David Richard- USA Today Sports

Pau Gasol has been spectacular for the Chicago Bulls this season, leading them to one of the top four seeds in the Eastern Conference while putting up quality statistics. Unfortunately, his body of work doesn’t necessarily mean he should have been picked for the All-Star Game. Here are five reasons why Pau Gasol shouldn’t be an NBA All-Star starter.

5. All-Star Game Is Fast-Paced

Pau Gasol
Mike Dinovo- USA Today Sports

5. All-Star Game Is Fast-Paced

Pau Gasol
Mike Dinovo- USA Today Sports

Pau Gasol isn’t known to be one of the faster players in the NBA, and the All-Star Game is typically played at a run-and-gun pace. Fans pay to see high-velocity basketball, which Gasol unfortunately can't provide on a consistent basis. That's something he would be expected to do as a starter for the NBA All-Star Game.

4. Hasn't Been An All-Star Since 2011

Pau Gasol, Amare Stoudemire
Peter Read Miller- Getty Images

4. Hasn't Been An All-Star Since 2011

Pau Gasol, Amare Stoudemire
Peter Read Miller- Getty Images

There is a reason why Pau Gasol hasn’t been an All-Star in four years, and that is largely due to his brand diminishing as a player and his age rising. 34 years of age typically resonates as the twilight years of your career in the NBA, not the time to be starting in an All-Star Game.

3. Not The Best Power Forward In The East

Paul Millsap, Pau Gasol
Dale Zanine- USA Today Sports

3. Not The Best Power Forward In The East

Paul Millsap, Pau Gasol
Dale Zanine- USA Today Sports

If Pau Gasol was actually the best power forward in the Eastern Conference, this might all be a moot point, but the fact remains that he isn’t. That title would currently belong to Paul Millsap, who plays for the Eastern Conference-leading Atlanta Hawks. Millsap deserves to be starting over Gasol.

2. Not Willing To Share The Ball

Pau Gasol, LeBron James,
David Richard- USA Today Sports

2. Not Willing To Share The Ball

Pau Gasol, LeBron James
David Richard- USA Today Sports

Pau Gasol’s assist totals have been slowly falling every season, and this year, his average of 2.8 assists per game is one of the lowest of his career. His inability to pass more often than shoot will take time away from the players the fans really came to see in the East, like LeBron James or John Wall.

1. Potential Injury

Pau Gasol
Chris Humphreys- USA Today Sports

1. Potential Injury

Pau Gasol
Chris Humphreys- USA Today Sports

Because Pau Gasol is already 34 years old, the likelihood of a season-ending injury is somewhat great. If the Bulls are serious about winning a title this season, having Gasol play as few minutes as possible in a game that does nothing to the standings is very important. No Gasol in the playoffs could mean an early exit.

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