Los Angeles Lakers

Kobe on Damian Lillard's All-Star case: 'Why is that even a question?'

Published Jan. 26, 2016 2:42 a.m. ET

Jovan Buha

After the Los Angeles Lakers' 121-103 loss to the Portland Trail Blazers on Saturday, Kobe Bryant was asked about Damian Lillard's odds of making the Western Conference All-Star team.

Bryant, who had just witnessed Lillard lighting up the Lakers for 36 points (14-of-19 shooting, 5-of-8 3-point shooting), said the fourth-year star should be a no-brainer to make the roster, according to CSN NorthWest:

"Why is that even a question? Of course he should be."

On merit alone, Lillard certainly has All-Star-level production. But with the Blazers on the fringes of the Western Conference playoff race, it's difficult to justify Lillard making the team over Klay Thompson, Chris Paul or James Harden (the three backcourt players most likely to make the All-Star team as reserves).

Coaches tend to reward winning in All-Star voting, and the Trail Blazers haven't won at the level of those teams. There's a chance Lillard can make the team as a wild card, but with those one of the aforementioned three backcourt stars likely to make the team ahead of him, it might be a stretch to expect the coaches to vote four guards in as All-Stars.

In an ironic twist, Bryant -- who notably struggled this season, yet was voted into the All-Star Game as a starting frontcourt player -- could be keeping Lillard off the team.

Had Bryant not been voted in, Golden State Warriors forward Draymond Green would likely be starting (or perhaps Dallas Mavericks center Zaza Pachulia), and there would be a spot on the bench for another player. Instead, Bryant is starting and Green will now have to take the spot of a deserving player who should've made the team.

These are the consequences of Bryant being voted, which, of course, is no fault of his own. The fans voted him in, and that's who they want to see. But it's going to cost Lillard -- or DeMarcus Cousins or Dirk Nowtzki or someone else -- a spot, and that's not fair.

Jovan Buha covers the NBA for FOX Sports. Follow him on Twitter at @jovanbuha.