Most unlikely NBA All-Star starters ever: Andrew Wiggins, Yao Ming, more
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The annual NBA All-Star Game festivities are one of the most highly anticipated events during the NBA season. Particularly the All-Star Game, fans look forward to seeing the best players of the season play together and showcase their talents with little to no defense.
With the 2025 All-Star Game starters being announced Thursday, there’s bound to be some surprises. Although voting and stats play major roles in the All-Star Game selection, some players who don't deserve to be included find their way onto the team. In fact, some of them even emerge as starters for the game.
For example, Golden State Warriors forward Andrew Wiggins caught everyone off-guard when he was selected as an All-Star Game starter in 2022. With Wiggins’ struggles in 2023-24, it seems even more surprising that he once started the All-Star Game. Here is a look at Andrew Wiggins and the most unlikely All-Star starters ever.
Andrew Wiggins: 2022
Stats: 17.2 points, 4.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists per game
Playing fourth fiddle to Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, and Draymond Green, fans were a bit shocked to see Wiggins' name in the Western Conference's starting lineup. While his numbers were decent, there were just other players who deserved that spot.
It's the best time to begin 2022! He is one of the best two-way players!
Wiggs deserves to be an All-Star, vote Andrew Wiggins into the 2022 NBA All-Star Game..and I can't wait to meet you all very soon#AndrewWiggins#NBAAllStarpic.twitter.com/bpOXKAJ920— BamBam (@BamBam1A) January 8, 2022
But for Wiggins, an endorsement from BamBam, a star K-Pop performer, played a huge part in securing him the votes to be an NBA All-Star in the first place. Add in the injuries to stars such as Kawhi Leonard, Paul George, and Anthony Davis, and the stars aligned for Wiggins to secure the starting spot.
Dick McGuire: 1956
Stats: 6.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 5.8 assists per game
If you score less than double figures per game, it's hard to tell how one can get into an All-Star Game or let alone even start in one. Nevertheless, Dick McGuire was able to do it in 1956 despite it being the worst season of his career.
Maybe playing in Madison Square Garden certainly boosted his popularity. Being a New York Knick at that time did have some perks.
A.C. Green: 1990
Stats: 12.9 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.1 assists per game
A.C. Green was one of the key pieces that led to three NBA championships for the Los Angeles Lakers. Although his role was instrumental, pretty sure it didn't merit an NBA All-Star Game starting nod.
However, it does help your popularity to play alongside the likes of Vlade Divac, Magic Johnson, and James Worthy. It was obvious that Hall of Famers Chris Mullin or David Robinson deserved that starting spot over Green, who had a scoreless outing in his first and only All-Star Game appearance.
B.J. Armstrong: 1994
Stats: 14.8 points, 2.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists per game
After a three-peat, everyone cheered for the Chicago Bulls. However, what do you do when you can't vote for Michael Jordan? You vote in the next best shooting guard on the Bulls squad, which turned out to be B.J. Armstrong.
In fairness, in 1994, Armstrong was in the midst of the best scoring season of his career. Furthermore, prior to that season, he also led the league in 3-point percentage with a scorching-hot 45.3 percent clip.
Anthony Mason: 2001
Stats: 16.1 points, 9.6 rebounds, 3.1 assists per game
Anthony Mason was one of the best scrappers in the league during his time. Although he was a solid player, the only time he was selected as an All-Star starter was a head-scratcher.
During the game, Mason started over future Hall of Famer Dikembe Mutombo, who was averaging a solid double-double of 10.0 points, 13.5 rebounds, and 2.7 blocks per game. Mason finished the game scoreless with four rebounds. On the other hand, Mutombo dominated the game with six points and 22 rebounds.
Steve Francis: 2004
Stats: 16.6 points, 5.5 rebounds, 6.2 assists per game
While playing for Houston, Steve Francis was consistent until the 2003-04 season. But despite his lowest scoring season for the Rockets, it was enough to give him an NBA All-Star starting selection. Despite his mediocre output, Francis was chosen to start over Ray Allen and Sam Cassell, who were averaging 23 points and 19.8 points, respectively.
Allen Iverson: 2010
Stats: 13.8 points, 2.8 rebounds, and 4.0 assists per game
Although Iverson pieced together a legendary career, his final season in the NBA wasn't impressive at all. He only appeared in 28 games overall and wasn't happy with his role with the Grizzlies.
However, contemplating retirement surely triggered fans to vote him in as an All-Star starter. Fans simply wanted to get a last look at The Answer before he left the league after the season.
Yao Ming: 2011
Stats: 10.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, 0.8 assists
Yao Ming is arguably the best basketball player to come out of Asia. He was an All-Star for every season he played in the NBA and was eventually inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. However, him getting the starting spot at the 2011 All-Star Game certainly raised eyebrows.
Yao had only played five games during the regular season due to injuries. Furthermore, his numbers certainly didn't have any All-Star all over it. However, if you're a proud product of (at the time) the most populated basketball-crazy nation like China, getting the votes should be a piece of cake.
Kevin Garnett: 2013
Stats: 14.8 points, 7.8 rebounds, 2.3 assists per game
Kevin Garnett & Carmelo Anthony!http://t.co/bIRu51KGpic.twitter.com/b5DVaust
— NBA Memes (@NBAMemes) January 18, 2013
When it came to the heart and soul of the team, Kevin Garnett was at the center of it during his run with the Boston Celtics. He played an instrumental role in Boston's championship in 2008.
Thus, he cemented a decorated legacy in the league. However, one can argue that he didn't deserve the starting spot in the 2013 All-Star Game.
KG started over the likes of Joakim Noah, Brook Lopez, and Tyson Chandler despite his so-so numbers. One could also argue that All-Star snubs Al Horford and Al Jefferson would have also made a good case for starting.
Kobe Bryant: 2014
Stats: 13.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists per game
There's no question that Kobe Bryant is arguably one of the best scorers of the game. Equipped with the Mamba Mentality, the late Bryant was nearly impossible to guard. However, Bryant certainly didn't deserve the All-Star starting position in 2014 with is play on the court.
Bryant only played in six games and tallied his second-worst scoring output of his career, the lowest since his rookie season. Although he didn't play that game due to injury, fans respected Bryant a lot for him to get more votes than even Stephen Curry.
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