Spurs: Advanced Metric says Dejounte Murray is an NBA All-Star

It's no secret that Dejounte Murray is putting up All-Star numbers for the San Antonio Spurs this season, but his selection is far from a given in the loaded Western Conference.

After all, DeMar DeRozan wasn't even taken as a replacement pick last season despite being on his way to averaging 21.6 points, 6.9 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game when the big game came around. This season, Murray's all-around game should put him in contention for his first All-Star selection, and he might even have a better case than DeMar despite the Spurs' unimpressive record.

Through 30 games, the fifth-year point guard is averaging 18.1 points, 8.6 assists, and 8.4 rebounds per game, leading the Spurs in the first two categories. The sixth triple-double he logged this season against the LA Clippers was the most any Spur has ever had in a season and tied last year's regular season MVP, Nikola Jokic, for the most overall this year.

Voting for All-Stars can be a tricky assignment, with players, media members, and fans all having some say in who makes the cut. As a way to try determining who is worthy, the team at HoopsHype created a statistical tool called Global Rating.

The scale measures several important factors including team performance and individual player impact on that, games missed, general statistics, and shooting efficiency. In their recent write-up of who should make the cut in the Western Conference, Murray's rating puts him just above Devin Booker to make the All-Star team as a reserve.

Booker is averaging 23.0 points and 5.1 rebounds per game for the first-placed Phoenix Suns and recently missed seven games with a hamstring injury. Other threats to Murray's spot, according to the list, include Ja Morant (15.85) and Deandre Ayton (15.72), who currently have ratings in the ballpark of Murray's (17.09).

The Selection of Murray as an All-Star Hinges on One Thing

Ultimately, Murray's individual numbers should earn him a spot as a selection by the head coaches if they stay as is. He's almost averaging a triple-double, after all. But the biggest hindrance to a selection will be the Spurs' record.

San Antonio can't be seven or eight games below .500 and expect to have an All-Star representative since winning is always a huge point of emphasis for voters. The Memphis Grizzlies, for example, might be represented by Morant given their surprising record despite him sitting several games. Devin Booker is also likely a lock considering the Suns' dominant start to the season as well.

If the Spurs can rattle off some wins and get back to a respectable record, there's no reason Dejounte shouldn't be on the court with the best of the best in Cleveland come February.

Voting for the NBA All-Star game officially begins on December 25th at 11 AM ET and concludes on January 22 at midnight ET.