The NBA's All-Time Almost All-Stars Team
Adam Fromal
Only a few handfuls of players can be named All-Stars during any given  NBA  season. Typically, the vast majority of them are repeat offenders...
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Carlisle on the most-deserving Mav as an All-Star: "I think Monta Ellis is the most deserving based on how he continues to elevate his game"

Carlisle on Ellis as an All-Star: "Each year with us, his defense is a bigger factor. He's become a leader. … The evidence is all there."

Rick Carlisle: "Monta Ellis deserves to be an All-Star. Tweet that."

This year's prime example: Atlanta Hawks forward Josh Smith, who is averaging 15.9 points, 9.3 rebounds, 3.3 assists, 2.1 blocks and 1.4 steals while shooting 46.7 percent from the field in 34.4 minutes a night. The Hawks are currently 18-9, good for fourth in the Eastern Conference. That's a strong, strong resume, but Smith was left off the final Eastern Conference All-Star team in favor of guys like teammate Joe Johnson, Chicago Bulls forward Luol Deng, Philadelphia 76ers forward Andre Iguodala and Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce.

I can't think of a better player who's never made an All-Star team.

In my mind, he should have been on four or five All-Star teams. It's just unfortunate because he played at a time when there were so many guards in the West.

He's under-appreciated by the world—probably not by the Lakers, but the outside people. Everyone kind of thought, 'Magic made Byron a great player.' I think Byron was great no matter who he played with.