When the Dallas Mavericks missed out on DeAndre Jordan this summer many people felt that their center position would be a major problem for them this season. The Mavericks did make a trade for Zaza Pachulia as a second option but not much was expected of him. Pachulia though, is having himself a very nice season for the surprising Mavericks and he was almost an All-Star because of it, according to Tim MacMahon of ESPN Dallas.
The starters for the NBA All-Star game were revealed on Thursday night and shockingly Pachulia finished fourth among Western Conference frontcourt players. The three players ahead of him were Kobe Bryant, Kevin Durant and Kawhi Leonard. Pachulia finished just 14,000 votes behind Leonard for that final starting spot. Bryant, typically a guard, was listed as a frontcourt player this season but if he were listed as a backcourt player, like he usually is, then Pachulia would be starting the All-Star game.
Pachulia is having himself a career year in his 13th NBA season, it may not be All-Star worthy but Mavericks fans and people from his native country of Georgia have taken notice. This is Pachulia's first time being a full-time starter in the league and he is averaging a double-double with 10.5 points and 10.8 rebounds per game.
Prior to this year the 31-year-old center had never finished higher than fifth among centers in All-Star voting under the old voting system and in the new system he had never finished higher than 10th among frontcourt players.
"I'm so humbled by it. Words can't describe how happy I'm feeling with the love I'm feeling from the fans, from the Mavs fans and my people in Georgia. They appreciate what I do," said Pachulia about the incredible amount of votes he received.
Pachulia is very unlikely to be selected as a reserve for the All-Star team but he can take solace in the fact that he was extremely close to being voted in by the fans. Pachulia can also be happy about the huge impact he has made on the Mavericks this season as they are in sixth place in the West in a season where nobody expected anything from them. Pachulia is considered a leader and a fan favorite for the Mavericks and he was almost rewarded with an All-Star nod because of it.
