By John Denton Dec. 27, 2013
ORLANDO – Orlando Magic guard Arron Afflalo said there are many reasons he doesn’t pine for a position in the NBA All-Star Game, among them is his knowing that he’ll never win a popularity contest against the likes of Miami Heat star Dwyane Wade.
Quietly, Afflalo is hoping that his play on the court will be enough to get him selected as a reserve for the Feb. 16 All-Star Game in New Orleans. To do so, Afflalo will need to earn a selection from the Eastern Conference coaches because he does not even rank in the top 15 of fan votes even though he’s in the midst of a career year.
Afflalo has certainly played like an all-star this season, averaging career bests in scoring (21.9 ppg.), rebounds (4.6), assists (3.9) and 3-point shooting (43.7 percent). He had a career-best 43 points in Philadelphia on Dec. 6, he’s scored at least 30 points four times and he’s had 15 20-point games. He’s easily been Orlando’s most impressive and most consistent player in every phase of the game.
The mild-mannered Afflalo said he hopes that his play on the court will speak volumes for his case to make the All-Star Game for the first time in his seven-year career. Afflalo is fearful that the Magic’s sub-.500 record could hurt his chances, but he said he would never sacrifice his team-first mantra to try and make an all-star game.
``For one, it’s obvious I’m not one to push for fan votes,’’ Afflalo said. ``For me, it’s about team play, winning and it’s about the growth of my game and if I can get the respect of the coaches from that ankle, it’s something that I would definitely appreciate.
``I’m not trying to outvote D-Wade and these guys who are constantly in the limelight,’’ Afflalo said. ``I’m more of a basketball purist, I love the game and hopefully that will get appreciated from a different angle.’’