NBA All-Star festivities are set to take place this weekend from February 14th to 16th, and because of this, there is no time like the present to talk about the biggest snub of the All-Star Game: Jarrett Allen. The starting center for the Cleveland Cavaliers has had what some might call a career year up to this point of the season. Today I will make the case as to why Jarrett Allen should be joining teammates Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Donovan Mitchell in the bay instead of staying at home in Cleveland.

Insane Efficiency

Jarrett Allen is not having a career year for points. Allen is averaging just 13.6 points per game compared to his 18.1 points per game when he last appeared in the All-Star game. This should have not harmed his All-Star case, however. Jarrett Allen has been insanely efficient from the field this season, shooting a staggering 70% percent and putting him second in the entire NBA for shooting percentage. A player with this level of efficiency deserves the title of NBA All-Star.

Defensive Impact

The Cleveland Cavaliers’ identity since the LeBron era has always had a focus on one thing, defense. Regardless of who is coaching the Cleveland Cavaliers the team has always been a top-end defense and Jarrett Allen is a big part of that. Allen in my humble opinion is a much better true rim protector than other NBA All-Stars that made the team this year such as Pascal Siakam and Karl-Antony Towns. If that is a hot take, then I don’t think you have watched enough of the number-one seed in the Eastern Conference this season. This team’s defense relies on the post-play of Allen and Mobley, and make no mistake, they are equal partners in that venture.

Winners Win

The Cavaliers have arguably been the best team up until this point in the 2024-25 season and while they have 3 All-Stars, they deserve more. Maybe this is selfish because I am an avid Cleveland Cavaliers watcher, but give the winners more! You should award the winners with the most accolades and while the league is star-studded, so are the Cavs and to leave one guy out who rightfully deserves it to have more, less talented teams represented in the game just does not sit right with me. Let the Fro go to the bay!

The Bottom Line

Allen was an All-Star in 2022 and his play this season surpasses his play of that season by far. He has been more efficient on offense and more elite on defense, and his team’s record reflects that. Allen is a true star in the league and leaving him out of the game is a travesty, especially considering how much the league values the aforementioned offensive and defensive efficiency that Allen possesses’. By snubbing him the league has now overlooked one of the most impactful centers in the NBA today. The silver lining to this situation is that the Cavaliers look poised for success for multiple seasons to come, and Allen will have multiple chances to make the All-Star game, a game he deserves to be in.