Charles Barkley believes Zion Williamson starting the All-Star Game ahead of players like Domantas Sabonis and Lauri Markkanen is UNFAIR

Charles Barkley said either Lauri Markkanen or Domantas Sabonis deserve to be the starting players in All-Star game instead of Zion Williamson.


Charles Barkley believes Zion Williamson starting the All-Star Game ahead of players like Domantas Sabonis and Lauri Markkanen is UNFAIR

Charles Barkley and Zion Williamson

Last Thursday, the league announced the All-Star game starting lineup for the 2022-23 season. While announcing the list of players for the game, Charles Barkley, the former NBA legend said that he did not agree with the list. Adam Lefkoe, who was filling in for Ernie Johnson, announced the result that revealed that New Orleans Pelicans star Zion Williamson got third place in player voting. Lakers star Anthony Davis was third in the fan voting, whereas, third in the media voting was Kings‘ center Domantas Sabonis.

Pelicans star Zion Williamson was named one of the starters for the game because he ended fourth in fan and media voting tallies. Expressing his problem with the pick Charles Barkley said that Domantas Sabonis and Lauri Markkanen should have made it to the list, not Zion. “I hope he [Williamson] doesn’t take this the wrong way, but he’s missed too many games in my opinion,” Barkley said after the announcement. “I would’ve went with Sabonis or Markkanen, that’s just my personal preference. He also added that a player who has missed half of the games played should not start the All-Star game. “I don’t think you can miss 20 games in the first half of the season, I just don’t think that’s fair,” added Barkley. 

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Voting for the NBA All-Stars began on December 20 and closed on January 21. Fans receive 50% of the votes overall, while media and active players each receive 25%. Three frontcourt players and two guards from each conference are included in one vote. NBA superstar LeBron James received the highest votes among the players and was selected captain of the Western Conference.

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Lauri Markkanen and Domantas Sabonis so far in the season compared to Zion Williamson

Lauri Markkanen and Domantas Sabonis

The Jazz star, Lauri Markkanen has been having a career season so far in the year. He has been averaging 24.9 points so far in the season. He is also been having a career year from the field as well. The Finnish star has been shooting over 50 percent from the field while averaging over 8 rebounds per game. He has been a crucial piece in the Jazz’s offense not only because of the scoring but also because he takes lesser shots from the field, allowing other players to flourish. 

Sacramento Kings center and big man Domantas Sabonis, on the other hand, has appeared in over 45 games this season. He has also registered six triple-doubles and is averaging 18.4 points, 12.4 rebounds, and 7.3 assists per game this season. Sabonis doesn’t play flashy games, perhaps one of the reasons that he is largely disregarded in the fans’ voting. Zion has played only 29 games this season, but he has averaged 26 points while averaging over 60% from the field.

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