Jeremy Lin News: Houston Rockets GM Snubs Lin's All-Star Votes, Complains About Dwight Howard, James Harden Not Starting

By Onchie Ebriega| Jan 27, 2014

Apparently, Houston Rockets general manager Daryl Morey isn't happy to see his stars not getting NBA All-Star starting lineup nods, and he isn't talking about Jeremy Lin.

The Houston Rockets have surprisingly failed to field at least a starter in the upcoming All-Star game despite having a roster filled with superstar-caliber talents, such as shooting guard James Harden and Dwight Howard.

Morey fired a shot at the NBA for adapting a new voting process, which allowed fans to vote two backcourt players and three frontcourt players (forwards) regardless of their position as All-Star starters.

The latest maneuver by the NBA did not bode well for the Rockets as Howard and Harden all failed to reach enough votes for them to become starters for the upcoming midseason classic in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Oklahoma City Thunder superstar small forward Kevin Durant, Minnesota Timberwolves power forward Kevin Love, and Los Angeles Clippers power forward Blake Griffin received the starting nod for the Western Conference All-Star front court while Stephen Curry and Kobe Bryant will comprise the backcourt.

Morey apparently did not like the outcome of the All-Star voting, openly accusing the NBA of abandoning defense in the All-Star game by "gerry-mandering" true centers out of the starting role.  

"NBA all star voting process set up well for Iowa high school girls basketball. Offense only & only guards and forwards," Morey stated on his Twitter account. "It's a house election right now w/Centers gerrymandered out MT @5thQuarterMag It's 4 fans. Would U like presidential election 4 All-Star Gm?"

Morey also voiced out his dismay about Harden not becoming an All-Star starter this year, despite having a way better season than the badly-hurt Bryant, who is still sitting out with a knee injury.

"If Kobe out then @JHarden13 should start or, since positions don't matter, @KDTrey5 should be SG & @DwightHoward starts w/next highest votes," Morey tweeted.

Many basketball followers considered Morey's latest comments as a slap in the face to Lin, who racked up over 150,000 votes more than Harden.

Lin's popularity has exploded over the past few seasons ever since Linsanity was born in New York City. This popularity was manifested through Lin's latest endorsement with Adidas and Volvo while maintaining a huge fan base abroad, especially in Taiwan and China.

"Morey's tweets were kind of a slap in the face to Jeremy Lin even if it was unintended. If Morey's trying to unload Lin before the poison-pill third year of his contract kicks in next season, maybe he should have pushed Lin for an All-Star nod instead of Harden. It sounds better to say, "All-Star starter, Jeremy Lin" during trade negotiations," via Spencer Lund of Dime Mag.

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