Outside of two-way wings Kawhi Leonard and Paul George, the LA Clippers have not had an all-star selection since DeAndre Jordan in 2017. Iconic sixth man Lou Williams made a prominent case in 2018 but was eventually snubbed by other talents in the Western Conference.
Due to George being in the Eastern Conference and Leonard out with injury, the fans will be pushing the all-star campaigns of James Harden, Norman Powell, and Ivica Zubac. This trio has performed on par with the best in the league, carrying the Clippers to a noteworthy seeding in the Western Conference.
With the low expectations NBA fans held on the Clippers this season, these three have beat the odds and proved to the world their real potential. Being a top-six seed in a stacked conference is not easy, which backs up why head coach Tyronn Lue has three players who deserve all-star recognition.
Powell, in particular, has earned the all-world honor. He has stamped the best season of his career and poses as the Clippers' go-to scoring option. However, through the first round of all-star returns, odds are not favoring the former UCLA Bruin to be selected.
LA Clippers guard Norman Powell has received an underwhelming amount of support through the first return of all-star votes.
Despite the constant success of LA Clippers star Norman Powell, his chances of being chosen to the all-star roster appear to have dwindled from fan voting. Powell ranks behind multiple stars he has outplayed nearly halfway through the year.
Denver’s Nikola Jokic and Milwaukee’s Giannis Antetokounmpo are leading the NBA’s first 2024-25 All-Star fan voting returns: pic.twitter.com/eQeU60l673
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) January 2, 2025
Moreover, Powell is averaging 24.3 points on an efficient 49.0% from the field and 45.1% from three. Based on these numbers alone, he deserves the first all-star nod of his career.
Conversely, Powell is tenth in fan voting with 110,222. This is not justifiable, as his impressive contributions have resulted in wins for the Clippers. The premiere scorer should be, at worst, a top-five guard in the Western Conference.
Fortunately for Powell, head coaches league-wide select the all-star reserves. This makes it easier for him to be honored, as there is a slim chance he will start in February. He has worked tirelessly to reach the top of scouting reports, ultimately gaining the respect of opposing NBA executives.
That said, Clipper fans must remain motivated in securing their star's entry to the all-star game. He has crushed his role under Tyronn Lue and thrives as one of the primary threats in Intuit Dome.