Carmelo Anthony gets replacement All-Star nod over Bradley Beal

Welp, it’s official Wizards fans: Bradley Beal first all-star appearance will have to wait another year. NBA commissioner Adam Silver has chosen Carmelo Anthony to replace Kevin Love in this year’s All-Star Game, according to Marc Stein of ESPN.

Beal had a strong case for why he should have earned his first All-Star appearance. The 23-year-old is averaging a career-high 22.3 points and 3.7 assists per game while shooting nearly 40 percent from three-point range. Not only has Beal lived up to his max contract status thus far, he’s one of the main reasons why Washington has the third-best record in the Eastern Conference.

But is anybody really surprised? Carmelo is still a big name and that’s what matters most in the All-Star Game. He’s heading to the All-Star Game for the eighth time in a row and tenth time in his career. If nothing else, it will serve as a victory lap for Anthony, who recently moved into the top 25 on the NBA’s all-time scoring list. And after all that Carmelo has gone through this season with the trade talks, the New York media, Phil Jackson, and the James Dolan, he deserves some good news, so that’s nice.

It stinks that Bradley Beal isn’t getting recognized for his outstanding play this season, but he’s still only 23. If he keeps building on his game like we’ve seen through the year, he’ll have no problem making the All-Star Game next season.