The Oklahoma City Thunder started out in a bit of a hole this season when they played the first few weeks of the season without their two superstars. The team started just 5-13 this season, playing all 18 of those games without Kevin Durant, and 14 of them without Russell Westbrook.
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Since the two stars have returned, the team has compiled a 20-11 record, but they still sit in 10th in the Western Conference, two games behind the Phoenix Suns for the eighth playoff spot. The team is expected to make the playoffs, but they still have work to do, and they are likely to end up without home-court advantage in any round.
The slow start has not kept fans and the league from recognizing the quality play of Durant, however, as he was voted as a starter on the All Star team by the fans. Some in the media argued that Durant did not deserve the spot because he missed so many games, but Durant's popularity likely would have put him into the All Star game no matter how much time he missed.
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Of course, anytime an "undeserving" player gets in, the conversation always gets tied to who got snubbed. One notable snub this year was Portland point guard Damian Lillard. He has played excellent basketball, but he also happens to play the deepest position in the league, and there was just no room for him.
This has not stopped Lillard from talking about being snubbed, and some chatter about Lillard deserving a spot inevitably focused on guys like Durant being voted in by the fans.
For his part, Durant was not backing down, offering up a challenge to anyone who wants his All Star spot:
Kevin Durant on his All-Star selection: "Whoever want my spot can play me one-on-one for it"
— Anthony Slater (@anthonyVslater) February 6, 2015
The reigning league MVP clearly knows that he belongs.
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