Kiwi Steven Adams snubbed again for All-Star game

Kiwi NBA centre Steven Adams has been snubbed yet again for All-Star game selection.

The NBA announced the reserves for the East and Western Conferences on Friday, with Adams missing out to the likes of Karl-Anthony Towns, LaMarcus Aldridge and Nikola Jokic on the West bench.

The road to his first All-Star call-up was always a steep one for the OKC fan favourite against such quality big men, including Utah Jazz centre Rudy Gobert, who also missed selection. 

The Western Conference bench will be represented by Towns, Aldridge, Jokic, Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Klay Thompson and Damian Lillard.

The news was better for Australian Ben Simmons, who was controversially overlooked in 2018.

The Philadelphia 76ers star put up record rookie numbers during his first full season, but to his dismay and that of many NBA pundits, Simmons was snubbed.

The point guard has been named as one of the reserves on the Eastern Conference bench.

The other Eastern reserves are Victor Oladipo, Kyle Lowry, Blake Griffin, Khris Middleton, Bradley Beal and Nikola Vucevic.

Oladipo will have to be replaced, after he suffered a season-ending leg injury last week.

The Boston Celtics' Kyrie Irving and Charlotte Hornets' Kemba Walker were named the East's starting guards.

The Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo, Toronto Raptors' Kawhi Leonard and 76ers' Joel Embiid make up the East's imposing front court.

The Western Conference starters is lethal with LeBron James partnering with Kevin Durant, Paul George, Stephen Curry and James Harden.

The power is now in the hands of respective captains LeBron James and Giannis Anetokounmpo who will pick the All-Star game lineups in high school yard form.

James will have the first choice on player as he received the most votes and then the two will alternate picks, but they must select the eight remaining starting players first, before moving onto the named reserves.