Listing the 5 most unexpected All-Stars in NBA history

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#3 B.J. Armstrong (1994)

Michael Jordan and B.J. Armstrong (Photo: Courtesy of Sky Sports)

B.J. Armstrong is known for winning three NBA championships with the Chicago Bulls. Armstrong was one of the key role players in the Bulls' first three-peat. But when Jordan retired after the 1993 season, Armstrong became one of the most unexpected All-Stars in NBA history.

The 6-foot-2 guard averaged a career high 14.8 points per game in 1994. Armstrong was third in scoring for the Bulls that season, but it was the fans who voted him in as a starter. He even received more fan votes than Scottie Pippen, who was having an MVP season.

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#2 Chris Gatling (1997)

Chris Gatling. (Photo: USA Today).

Chris Gatling was an NBA journeyman, spending his 11 seasons playing for eight different teams. In the 1996-97 season, He was named an All-Star for his play for the Dallas Mavericks. He was averaging a career-high 19.1 points, while serving as the Mavs' sixth man.

But as stated earlier, Gatling was a journeyman. Days after making his lone All-Star appearance, the Mavericks ended up trading him to the New Jersey Nets. Gatling's All-Star selection was totally unexpected, but his trade was not.

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#1 James Donaldson (1988)

James Donaldson. (Photo: Courtesy of The Guardian).

There have been a handful of unexpected All-Stars in NBA history, but not as unexpected as James Donaldson back in 1988. Donaldson was averaging just 7.0 points, 9.3 rebounds and 1.3 blocks that season for the Dallas Mavericks when he was named an All-Star injury replacement.

Donaldson was a solid center, but it was totally surprising to make him an All-Star in 1988. He had better averages of 10.8 points and 11.9 boards per the previous season. Donaldson's selection was so bad that the New York Daily News named him as the worst All-Star player ever.