Michael Porter Jr. snubbed the All-Star team despite coming out of Brooklyn

Michael Porter Jr.’s All-Star dreams were dashed Sunday, at least for now. Despite the best season of his career as Brooklyn Nets‘ Option no. 1, Porter was not one of the seven reservists selected to this year’s Eastern Conference team.

NBA head coaches selected Donovan Mitchell, Jalen Johnson, Scotty Barnes, Jalen Duren, Pascal Siakam, Karl-Anthony Towns and Norman Powell as East reserves.

Porter said earlier this season that making his first All-Star team was a “dream.” His lack of elite production ranks him among the most glaring missteps this year.

Michael Porter Jr.’s breakthrough with the Nets isn’t enough to earn him his first NBA All-Star nod

Porter is on average 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds and 3.2 assists on a .482/.398/.851 share. He is one of five players to average 25-plus points on that shooting efficiency, joining Nikola Jokic, Anthony Edwards, Kevin Durant and Jamal Murray. The Nets star is the only player in the group not to be an All-Star.

Brooklyn’s poor record (13-35) and several recent embarrassing losses have not helped Porter’s case. However, the 6-foot-10 shooting guard has had a huge impact on Brooklyn’s ability to compete for extended plays.

The Nets are 11.8 points worse per 100 possessions with Porter off the floor, the NBA’s eighth-highest mark among all players who have played over 700 minutes this season, according to CleaningTheGlass.

“He’s an All-Star. He played like an All-Star, you just have to watch him play, and how much better he’s gotten,” Jordi Fernandez said recently. “We competed in a lot of games, and he’s a big reason why we’re there. He just does his job, and it’s not about him; it’s about the group. So if you think about his impact on competitiveness, that’s what All-Stars do, and that’s why Mike should be there.”

Mitchell, Johnson, Barnes and Duren were considered locks on the East team as reserves. However, Towns, Powell and Siakam the inclusion via Porter will undoubtedly raise some eyebrows.

Porter posted the highest average and effective field goal percentage in the group. He ranks second in variable net rating (11.8) among the four players, trailing only Siakam.

Porter could still be named an All-Star as an injury replacement for Giannis Antetokounmpo. A calf strain sidelined the Bucks superstar after being named the East’s starter.