Charles Barkley: Donovan Mitchell, Damian Lillard Should’ve Been Named All-Star Game Starters

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – TNT analyst Charles Barkley argued that Utah Jazz guard Donovan Mitchell and former Weber State star Damian Lillard should’ve been named 2020-21 NBA All-Star Game starters.

The starters for the NBA All-Star game were announced on Thursday, February 18.

Stephen Curry of the Golden State Warriors and Luka Dončić of the Dallas Mavericks were named starters for the Western Conference over the fourth-year Jazzman and the Portland Trail Blazers standout.

The Western Conference @NBAAllStar Starters Pool!@KingJames (Captain)@StephenCurry30@luka7doncic
Nikola Jokic
Kawhi Leonard#NBAAllStar pic.twitter.com/ojxfaZwHuj

— NBA (@NBA) February 19, 2021

Following the announcement of the All-Star Game starters, Barkley said that Mitchell and Lillard would’ve been his guard choices to start for the West. Shaquille O’Neal also advocated for Lillard.

“I still think Damian Lillard should be a starter,” O’Neal said. “Time in and time out, he’s been pushed off this list. So I would have liked to have seen him as a starter.”

“What about Donovan Mitchell?” Barkley questioned.

“Popularity contest — Luka’s gonna win,” Kenny Smith responded.

Barkley went on to defend his position that his choice for starting guards in the West would’ve been Mitchell and Lillard.

"He is one of the top 5 basketball players in the world… That doesn't make sense to me." @SHAQ & @TheJetOnTNT discuss Dame not being named as an #NBAAllStar starter. pic.twitter.com/pzPwrr77MN

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 19, 2021

Donovan Mitchell in 2020-21

This season, Mitchell is averaging a career-high 24.2 points per game. That ranks No. 17 in the league.

He is shooting 42.7 percent overall and a career-high 39.1 percent from beyond the arc.

Mitchell has led the Jazz to an NBA-best record of 24-5 through Utah’s first 29 games of the season.

pic.twitter.com/0ZV5qX0uRK

— utahjazz (@utahjazz) February 19, 2021

After the starters were revealed, the Inside the NBA crew discussed their picks for the game’s reserves.

O’Neal, Barkley, and Ernie Johnson all picked Mitchell as a Western Conference reserve. Smith appeared to have left Mitchell off his list. Although he disputed the graphic shown on television and said that he had Mitchell in as a reserve over Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul.

Kenny Smith argued that he thought Donovan Mitchell deserved more love as a potential starter for the Western Conference All-Stars but didn't have him as one of his reserves either lol.

— Ben Anderson (@BensHoops) February 19, 2021

Other Jazz Players

In addition to Mitchell, all four broadcasters picked Jazz center Rudy Gobert as a Western Conference reserve.

However, Barkley added another Jazz player to his All-Star picks.

Barkley said that Jazz sixth man Jordan Clarkson was deserving of his first-ever All-Star nod.

“He’s been the best bench player in NBA this year. They’ve got the best record in the NBA,” Barkley said of Clarkson. “He’s been fantastic this year. That’s why I got him on my list.”

"You're comparing him to himself, you've got to compare him to the field."

Kenny debates Chuck's decision to put Jordan Clarkson over AD on his #NBAAllStar reserves list. pic.twitter.com/R4BIh0gs8F

— NBA on TNT (@NBAonTNT) February 19, 2021

Damian Lillard in 2020-21

Like Gobert, all four broadcasters picked Lillard as a reserve.

This season, the former Weber State star is averaging 29.8 points per game, which ranks No. 3 among players.

He is shooting 45.1 percent from the field, including 38.4 percent from downtown.

Lillard has led the Blazers to an 18-10 start this season.

pic.twitter.com/FuvRwaccel

— Portland Trail Blazers (@trailblazers) February 19, 2021

NBA All-Star Reserves

The All-Star reserves are selected by NBA head coaches. Seven players from each conference will be picked as reserves for the game.

All-Star Game reserves will be announced on Tuesday, February 23 at 5 p.m. (MDT) on TNT.