Stephen Curry will miss the NBA All-Star Game, and Adam Silver opted not to allow Cooper Flagg to break a 15-year rookie drought.
The NBA All-Star Game will be short a superstar, as Stephen Curry's lingering knee injury will keep him out through the break. Curry had already been assigned to Team USA Stripes, meaning his replacement had to be an American.
The final call came down to Adam Silver, who decided to showcase veteran wing Brandon Ingram, who will be making his second All-Star appearance, replacing Curry. Ingram is having a great season for an over-performing Toronto Raptors' team, but there is a strong case to be made that Cooper Flagg should have gotten the nod.
The last rookie to make the All-Star Game was Blake Griffin in 2011, and the 15-year streak will continue.
Making the All-Star Case for Cooper Flagg
This season, Ingram is averaging 22 points, 5.8 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. Flagg, meanwhile, is posting 20.3 points, 6.6 boards, and 4.2 assists.
Ingram is a much better shooter, and his team is outperforming the Dallas Mavericks, although Flagg is a much better defender, even at only 19 years old.
Between James Harden, Austin Reaves, and Michael Porter Jr., there were plenty of good American options to replace Curry. However, Silver made a major mistake by passing up Flagg.
Curry was supposed to team up with Kevin Durant and LeBron James on "Team Stripes," giving the trio perhaps one last send-off as the faces of the league for the current generation. However, with Curry out and Victor Wembanyama on Team World, there was a perfect chance for the NBA to highlight the next era.
There could have been a passing-of-the-torch moment between Curry, Durant, and James to Flagg and Wembanyama. Instead, a good player--Ingram--will get a well-deserved All-Star nod, but his inclusion doesn't do much to advance the league.
In an effort to answer the lingering "what's next" question, the NBA should have highlighted two of the brightest stars and a budding in-state rivalry. Instead, Flagg and the Mavericks will take a back seat at All-Star Weekend festivities, although Flagg will get to suit up in the Rising Stars Game.
Still, it was a major whiff and missed opportunity by the NBA's league office. Fans will have to wait until the 2028 Olympics for Flagg and Wembanyama to showcase their growing rivalry on a big stage.