NBA players we totally forgot made an All-Star team

NBA fans are used to seeing some of the game’s top players participate in the All-Star game each February. Over the course of NBA history, however, certain players have crashed the party with career years that earn them a spot in the contest. We’ll reminisce about the overachievers who most fans forgot made it to the All-Star game. All data is sourced from basketballreference.com.

Allen is viewed by most as an above average NBA big man. He’s a reliable rebounder and a capable shot-blocker, but most wouldn’t peg him as an All-Star caliber player. However, he did crack the roster in 2022, when he averaged over 16 points per game and nearly 11 boards. He’s still just 25 years old, so the perception of him might still change for the better in the future.

Dragic was never afraid of the big moment, and seemed to get better when the game was on the line. He had a respected career with many clutch moments in the postseason, but was largely left out of conversations involving top guards of his era. Dragic made the All-Star team in 2018 with the Miami Heat, when he averaged over 17 points per contest.

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The Atlanta Hawks had a phenomenal regular season during the 2014-2015 campaign; so much so that the team was rewarded with four All-Stars that year. Teague was one of them as the primary ballhandler of that squad. He was a solid NBA point guard for many years as an offensive facilitator.

Bynum received a lot of attention playing for the Los Angeles Lakers during Kobe Bryant’s prime, and eventually became the player many thought he could be in 2011-2012. The center averaged nearly 19 points and 12 rebounds per game, to go along with two blocks. Bynum would never come close to repeating that level of production again.

Wallace was a fan favorite throughout his career because he played the game with reckless abandon. He wasn’t afraid to take off from the semi-circle on a dunk, or dive for a loose ball that had little chance of being recovered. His supreme efforts were rewarded in 2010 with an All-Star appearance, when he was a member of the Charlotte Bobcats.

Due to the pace and space nature of the current NBA, Kaman may be viewed as a relic from a different era. He was a back to the basket center that had an array of moves in the low post. Kaman averaged a career-high 18 points per game in 2010, to go along with nine rebounds. He played in the NBA for 13 seasons.

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It’s hard to believe that Williams was once viewed as an integral part of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ attempts to help LeBron James win a title in his first stint with the team. With that said, Williams was a bona fide scorer at the point guard position. He averaged nearly 18 points per game, and was a great fit alongside James since Williams did not need to have the ball to produce.

Okur was something of a progenitor of the current NBA center, as his versatile floor spacing allowed Utah Jazz and Detroit Pistons teammates to get to the rim. He played an important role as a reserve on the 2004 Pistons title team, and was a Jazz mainstay for seven years. In 2007, Okur averaged nearly 18 points per game.

There is no shortage of dynamic Canadian NBA players in the game today, and Magloire helped set the scene for the current landscape in the 2000’s. He was known as a physical player, and made the 2004 All-Star game with averages of 13 points and 10 rebounds. He was difficult to box out when a shot went up.

Mashburn was one of those players who had the talent to be great but settled in as a very good NBA player. He averaged 19 points for his career, which is nothing to sneeze at. He made his first All-Star game at age 30 as a member of the New Orleans Hornets. He played in all 82 games that season, which was a career high.

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He’s known to fans today as a commentator and studio analyst, but Szczerbiak could really shoot the ball in his heyday. That came during his time with the Minnesota Timberwolves, where he spent the first seven years of his career. In 2002, Szczerbiak shot a career high 45% from three point range, en route to his first and only All-Star appearance.

Most fans of a certain age would not believe that Davis actually started the 2001 All-Star game, alongside players like Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson and Vince Carter. Davis was 32 years old at that point, and had built up a respected resume during his younger days with the Indiana Pacers. Davis played in the league until he was 37.

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Speaking of rugged former Indiana Pacers, Dale Davis was also rewarded with an All-Star appearance. His came in the 2000 contest, as the Pacers were on their way to making an NBA Finals run. The numbers don’t exactly jump off the page, but playing on a premier team helped Davis get recognized.

If there was one thing Williams could do at an All-Star level, it was rebound. It took a few years for the Nets to fully unleash him, but he averaged over 12 rebounds a game in his final three NBA seasons. During the 1997-1998 campaign, he averaged over 13 rebounds a night. Williams’ career was cut short due to a leg injury suffered in the 1999-2000 season.

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Gatling was a difficult player to guard, as his unorthodox moves and lefty shot took opponents by surprise. It’s rare for NBA players to make an All-Star team in a season and play for two teams while doing so, but Gatling pulled off the feat in 1996-1997 as a member of the Dallas Mavericks and New Jersey Nets.