Jazz F Lauri Markkanen Excluded From All-NBA Team

Anticipation was high in Salt Lake City in regard to the possibility of Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen being voted to the All-NBA team, but it wasn’t meant to be.

2022-23 All-NBA teams:

1st: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Giannis Antetokounmpo

2nd: Stephen Curry, Donovan Mitchell, Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jokic, Jaylen Brown

3rd: Damian Lillard, De'Aaron Fox, LeBron James, Julius Randle, Domantas Sabonis
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) May 10, 2023

Despite averaging 25.6 ppg on 49.9% from the field, Markkanen fell short of the votes needed to get the nod. Some might call it a snub, but not from this point of view.

The competition was stiff to crack the top six spots at the forward position, with LeBron James and Julius Randle getting enough votes to make the third team.

One could certainly make the argument that Markkanen was a more efficient player than Randle, but being absent for games at the end of the season when a playoff spot was at stake has to count for something.

Markkanen missed a total of 15 games when it was all said and done with 9 coming after the All-Star break. Taking the foot off the gas for draft position has consequences. Randle only missed five contests while leading the New York Knicks to the No. 5 seed. Considering the stat lines are similar, the tie goes to Randle.

But what about James' playing in only 55 games in what was an injury-riddled season for the King?

What’s good for the goose isn’t always good for the gander. James averaged 28.9 ppg while hauling in 8.3 rebounds and dishing out 6.8 assists. If we’re being honest, it’s a much more impressive stat line that wouldn’t justify voting for Markkanen just because he played in 12 more games.

Also, consider out of the 15 players that earned All-NBA honors, only two didn’t lead their teams to the playoffs.

That said, voting is never going to be a perfect science, and Markkanen falling short is certainly up for debate. It was an incredible year, so expect 'The Finnisher' to be part of the All-NBA club in the near future.

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