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NBA vets Miller and Terry nearing unfortunate distinction

Roughly 10 games into the season, Andre Miller is going to achieve a milestone that few will notice and none will celebrate.

With just 215 more minutes played, Miller will pass Derek Harper for an unfortunate record: most NBA minutes played without an All-Star appearance.

That kind of distinction is both a positive and a negative. After all, you don't last 15 years in the league and keep playing at a high level at age 37 without doing a lot of things right. Still, you've played more than anyone, ever, without an All-Star nod.

Such is life for Miller, who will also pass Rod Strickland this year as the non-All-Star with the most assists. He's also fourth in points scored.

Luckily for the Denver Nuggets point guard, he's not alone.

Jason Terry of the Brooklyn Nets will also pass Harper this season, assuming he doesn't get injured. The long-time reserve scorer is second in points for non-All-Stars and is the top 3-point shooter by a long shot.

Marcus Camby, who will see limited action with the Houston Rockets when he returns from plantar fasciitis, is the leading rebounder in this group and ranks second in blocked shots.

Career Rates & Highs Terry Miller Camby
Games 1101 1126 973
PPG 15.7 13.8 9.5
RPG 2.6 4 9.8
APG 4.5 7.1 1.9
High PPG 19.7 17 14.8
High RPG 4.1 4.7 13.1
High APG 7.4 10.9 3.3
Best All-Star Case 2008-09 2001-02 2007-08

There's something to be said for remarkable consistency and longevity, but it would be nice if these guys had been given a nod at some point.

Miller led the league in assists in 2001-02 with the Cleveland Cavaliers and averaged 16.5 points, 4.7 rebounds and 10.9 assists. Unfortunately, Michael Jordan was back that year, limiting the number of guard spots up for grabs in the East.

Terry had a good case in 2008-09 with the Dallas Mavericks, averaging 19.6 points with a career-best 19.3 player efficiency rating (15 is league average). The West was flush with good guards that year, though, and Terry's reserve role may have worked against him.

Camby never had the point totals to stick out, but in 2007-08 he averaged 13.1 rebounds, 3.3 assists and a league-best 3.6 blocks along with some of the best defense in the league. With Nuggets teammates Carmelo Anthony and Allen Iverson already in the game, however, he couldn't find his way on.

These seasons aren't egregious omissions by any means. And since none will make an All-Star team this year, it remains an unfortunate fact that they won't have 'NBA All-Star' on their career resumes.

Consider them the kings of the NBA's second tier.

Dap for the idea: Curtis Harris, basketball historian

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