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The Changing of the Guard Dec. 24, 2008 by Ben Couch - NJNETS.COM |
East Rutherford, N.J. —Tenth.
The first round of NBA All-Star balloting returns had been released, and Devin Harris ranked tenth.
The New Jersey Nets’ point guard, a fifth-year player averaging 24.8 points, 6.2 assists and 3.2 rebounds through 20 games, was more than 500,000 votes behind leaders Dwyane Wade and Allen Iverson. Wade, an NBA and Olympic champion, and Iverson, a one-time MVP and nine-time All-Star, are two of the most recognizable, popular players in the L.
That, Harris could live with. You can’t deny the data on those two.
But his 94, 294 votes also trailed players like Luke Ridnour (6th; 10.5 PPG, 5.2 APG) and Jameer Nelson (7th; 17.0 PPG, 5.4 APG). Sure Derrick Rose (17.7 PPG, 6.2 APG) was performing at a level commiserate with a No. 1 pick, and eighth sounds about right for a rook, but hadn’t anyone heard of Harris?
He’d once helmed a 60-win team within two victories of a title, and through Dec. 23 was the league’s sixth-leading scorer, shooting an efficient 46.3 percent overall. One would think Harris had earned some fan appreciation.
“I don’t usually pay attention to a lot of that stuff, but it is a little shocking,” said Harris, sounding baffled. “I’m going to continue to do what I do and hopefully it gets better, but it’s not something I’m too concerned with.”
Harris’ coaches and teammates are quick to campaign for him, candidly discussing his breakout season. They’ll mention his willingness to take on a leadership role entering his first full season as a Net or the seemingly unstoppable array of ways he can score.
“You can’t foul him because he’s hitting his free throws, can’t back off him because he’s hitting his jump shots and can’t get up on him because he’s quick as hell,” said backcourt mate Vince Carter. “He’s playing great basketball right now, All-Star level basketball. He definitely deserves to be an All-Star.”
For more on Devin Harris' All-Star caliber start to the season, pick up the Winter 2009 edition of the Nets All Access Magazine.
