The NBA uses success and it's weight very, very liberally.
Except for when the KINGS were the ones succeeding as a top 3 seed, as they were last season. Correct me if I’m wrong, but Swipa didn’t get voted into last seasons all-star game and only got in via injury replacement.
Minny was a bottom tier seed last season and when they are having a great season this season like the KINGS did last year — the rules didn’t apply the same. I mean, it’s not like Minny is a pillar of franchise success, either.
Quite honestly, I’m far past tired of the narrative of small market or perennial losing teams not getting or deserving awards like this. Or respect from the officials and/or league. If like 6 or 7 franchises in the big markets are all that really matters to the NBA — then definitely never expand again then save everybody a lot of time and frustration by contracting at least half of the 30 teams down to the only ones that matter.
Seriously, of the major sports leagues in North America, the NBA is by far the worst in terms marketing and supporting ALL their teams. Even in MLB where there isn’t even a salary cap, you have smaller market, less frequently successful franchises able to compete and even win championships from time to time. And the marquee players from the likes of Tampa Bay, Kansas City, Pittsburg, Toronto, etc, don’t get hosed and left out of all-star events and regular season awards.