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Austin Rivers holds the record for most years in the NBA without a single All-Star vote from fellow players

April 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) moves the ball against Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit:
April 20, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Clippers guard Austin Rivers (25) moves the ball against Portland Trail Blazers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit:

The NBA All-Star process is a popularity contest, and that doesn't just mean popularity with fans but with fellow players, too. That's because, since 2016-17, the NBA has had active players and media join fans in the voting process for All-Star starters, with players' votes counting for 25 percent of the overall total.

Naturally, some players started treating the process as a joke, voting for their teammates or friends to be All-Stars, deserving of the honor or not. Just this year, the likes of Jordan WalshChristian Wood and Yuki Kawamura received an All-Star vote from a fellow player. Wood hasn't even played in a game yet this season.

That got us wondering about which players in NBA history have played the most seasons without earning a single All-Star vote from a fellow player. And one of the two players who holds the record for that feat shocked us.

Austin Rivers played seven seasons in the NBA after fellow players joined the All-Star voting process. And in that time, he never got a single All-Star vote from another player, a record he holds with Landry Shamet.

That's despite Rivers' two best campaigns in the NBA - 2016-17 and 2017-18 – coming right when players joined the All-Star vote. '18 was the best season of Rivers' career, with the talented 2-guard averaging 15.1 points and 4.0 assists on 37.8 percent shooting from three that year.

So this was a bit of a head-scratcher for us. Was Rivers really that unpopular amongst his peers that not a single one decided to throw him an All-Star vote, even as a joke? As you're about to find out below, he's one of the two top players on this list (the only player who might have been better was Brandon Knight, but he was already slowed down by injuries in '17 when players became part of the All-Star voting process).

And Rivers was a big name, coming out of high school as an elite, well-known prospect, and heading to Duke to play for the legendary Mike Krzyzewski before getting to the NBA as a lottery pick. He's also the son of long-time NBA player and head coach Doc Rivers.

But maybe it was that nepotistic aspect of Rivers' journey that made him unpopular with his peers. Or perhaps it was his playstyle, as Rivers became a defensive pest (compliment) in the NBA, one who would talk a fair amount of trash.

Or maybe it was simply by chance that another player never thought to throw Rivers an All-Star vote.

Whatever the reason was, below, you can check out the full ranking of the NBA players with the most seasons played to never get an All-Star vote from another NBA player.

1. Austin Rivers

Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports
Petre Thomas-USA TODAY Sports

Seasons without getting an All-Star vote from another player: 7

1. Landry Shamet

Jan 6, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) looks to drive past Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) in the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Jan 6, 2025; New York, New York, USA; New York Knicks guard Landry Shamet (44) looks to drive past Orlando Magic guard Anthony Black (0) in the first quarter at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images

Seasons without getting an All-Star vote from another player: 7

3. Jake Layman

Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

Seasons without getting an All-Star vote from another player: 6

3. Garrison Mathews

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - DECEMBER 28: Garrison Mathews #24 of the Atlanta Hawks reacts at the conclusion of the 120-110 victory over the Miami Heat at State Farm Arena on December 28, 2024 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Todd Kirkland/Getty Images)

Seasons without getting an All-Star vote from another player: 6

5. Payton Pritchard

Jan 10, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) drivers the ball against Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter (22) in the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Jan 10, 2025; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) drivers the ball against Sacramento Kings guard Devin Carter (22) in the second half at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images

Seasons without getting an All-Star vote from another player: 5

5. Brandon Knight

Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports
Soobum Im-USA TODAY Sports

Seasons without getting an All-Star vote from another player: 5

5. CJ Miles

Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports
Kevin Sousa-USA TODAY Sports

Seasons without getting an All-Star vote from another player: 5

5. Edmond Sumner

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Seasons without getting an All-Star vote from another player: 5

5. DaQuan Jeffries

Dec 20, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) and Charlotte Hornets guard DaQuan Jeffries (3) battle for position in the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images
Dec 20, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) and Charlotte Hornets guard DaQuan Jeffries (3) battle for position in the second quarter at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Ross-Imagn Images

Seasons without getting an All-Star vote from another player: 5

5. Aaron Nesmith

Oct 27, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (5) deflects the ball controlled by Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) during the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images
Oct 27, 2024; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Philadelphia 76ers center Andre Drummond (5) deflects the ball controlled by Indiana Pacers forward Aaron Nesmith (23) during the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Marc Lebryk-Imagn Images

Seasons without getting an All-Star vote from another player: 5

5. Damyean Dotson

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Seasons without getting an All-Star vote from another player: 5

5. Cheick Diallo

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Seasons without getting an All-Star vote from another player: 5

5. Josh Green

Jan 25, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green (10) celebrates with guard LaMelo Ball (1) during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images
Jan 25, 2025; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Charlotte Hornets guard Josh Green (10) celebrates with guard LaMelo Ball (1) during the fourth quarter against the New Orleans Pelicans at Spectrum Center. Mandatory Credit: Scott Kinser-Imagn Images

Seasons without getting an All-Star vote from another player: 5

5. Alfonzo McKinnie

Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports

Seasons without getting an All-Star vote from another player: 5

5. Theo Pinson

Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Seasons without getting an All-Star vote from another player: 5

5. Zeke Nnaji

Nov 19, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji (22) dunks during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
Nov 19, 2024; Memphis, Tennessee, USA; Denver Nuggets forward Zeke Nnaji (22) dunks during the second half against the Memphis Grizzlies at FedExForum. Mandatory Credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images

Seasons without getting an All-Star vote from another player: 5

This article originally appeared on Hoops Hype: Austin Rivers holds the record for most years in the NBA without a single All-Star vote from fellow players