NBA All-Star fan voting has come to an end so it is time for me to put out my ballot for the 12 roster spots in each conference. There is no draft this year so what is released will be the teams in the traditional East vs West format.
West
Starters
G: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
SGA has had a monster season, averaging 31.1 points, 6.3 assists, 5.5 rebounds, and 2.2 steals (he leads the league in steals per game), he looks like an MVP candidate. The advanced numbers also blow last year’s advanced numbers out of the water, according to Basketball Reference. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is going to start the All-Star Game.
G: Luka Doncic
The debate here was Doncic vs. Steph Curry but when you compare the two of them, there is no debate; Luka is the answer. 33.6 points, 9.2 assists, and 8.3 rebounds along with a 24-18 record have Doncic as the easy choice for this spot.
F: LeBron James
At this point it is almost like James has to be an All-Star starter as long as he is playing at an elite level. The numbers are good 24.8 points, 7.4 assists, and 7.2 rebounds per game but they don’t tell the whole story on how great LeBron has been. He looks really good when you watch him and he should start the All-Star Game.
F: Kevin Durant
Durant has had a monster season, keeping Phoenix a float in the West. 29.2 points, 6.3 rebounds, and 5.6 assists on shooting splits of .53/.47/.88, Durant has been scoring extremely efficiently this season with a true shooting percentage of 64% and at a really high volume with 19.4 shot attempts per game.
F: Nikola Jokic
The 2-time MVP and reigning Finals MVP gets the final nod as a starter. With 26.1 points, 11.9 rebounds, and 9.1 assists, Jokic is having yet another MVP like season, leading the defending champs to the 3rd seed in the Western Conference.
Bench
G: Stephen Curry
Number 30 in Golden State has had another great season even if his team is not winning games. The Warriors are 18-22 and need to make a trade but that is not what this is about. Curry's numbers are down, both traditional and advanced, but they are still great overall and Curry should be an All-Star.
G: Anthony Edwards
The Wolves are the 1st seed in the Western Conference and Ant is a lock for the All-Star game. With career highs in points, assists, field goal percentage, and 3 point percentage, Edwards has become an elite tier one player.
F: Kawhi Leonard
This season Kawhi Leonard is playing his best basketball since 2019 and should be a lock to make the All-Star game and has a chance to be a starter. The Clippers look like they can absolutely win the championship and Leonard’s health and play is a large part of that.
F: Anthony Davis
Yes, 2 Lakers make the team even at .500 because Davis has earned an All-Star nod. Averaging 24.9 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 2.4 blocks per game, Davis is playing really well on both ends and even looks like a DPOY candidate. He belongs in the All-Star game.
F: Domantas Sabonis
Sabonis has had yet another great season, averaging 20.1 points, 12.6 rebounds (leads the league), and 8.0 assists. He has been Sacramento’s best player this season and, in my opinion, is worthy of the All-Star nod.
WC: Devin Booker
Devin Booker has had yet another monster season, even with the Suns struggling. With averages of 27.0 points, 7.7 assists, and 4.8 rebounds, Booker is averaging a career high in assists and playing the 1 guard role well when Phoenix has their big 3 on the court.
WC: Lauri Markkanen
Markkanen has come on as of late to become an All-Star for the second consecutive season. Over his last 19 games, Markkanen has averaged 24.2 points and 9.0 rebounds on shooting splits of .51/.40/.90 and the Jazz have been 13-6 over that stretch which lands the Finn in the last spot on the Western Conference All-Star team.
East
Starters
G: Tyrese Haliburton
While averaging 23.6 points per game, Haliburton is still leading the NBA in assists per game at 12.6. He is averaging career highs in points, rebounds, and assists and with the Pacers adding Pascal Siakam in a trade, has Indiana looking like a really interesting team in a loaded Eastern Conference.
G: Jalen Brunson
Ever since the OG Anunoby trade, Jalen Brunson has gone to another level. In the 9 games since the trade that Brunson has played in he is averaging 28.9 points, 8.4 assists, and 3.8 rebounds on shooting splits of /48/.38/.88, he has come on very well as of late should find himself as an All-Star starter.
F: Jayson Tatum
Tatum has played his best ball recently but with averages of 26.7 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists and the Celtics have the best record in the NBA at 32-10, he probably would have started this game anyways.
F: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Giannis is playing like a man possessed this season. With averages of 31.2 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 6.0 assists, Antetokounmpo is a clear choice to start the All-Star Game.
F: Joel Embiid
If Embiid plays in enough games, a big if, he should win the MVP with the way he has played this season. Averaging 35.0 points, 11.4 rebounds, and 5.9 assists, if Embiid plays like this in the playoffs, the Sixers can win the championship.
Bench
G: Donovan Mitchell
With Evan Mobley and Darius Garland missing so much time, Mitchell has needed to step up and he has in a big way. Over the 11 games since Garland’s injury that Mitchell has played in, he is averaging 28.4 points, 7.3 assists, and 4.7 rebounds.
G: Trae Young
Though the Hawks are bad and while Young’s defense is a part of that problem, Young’s offense has him worthy of the All-Star Game. Averaging 26.9 points and 10.8 assists, Young has All-Star worthy numbers.
F: Scottie Barnes
The Raptors are finally building around Scottie Barnes and he looks like he is rewarding them for it. Averaging 20.1 points, 8.3 rebounds, and 5.7 assists, Barnes has become the face of the Toronto Raptors and an All-Star nod seems likely to come with it.
F: Bam Adebayo
Adebayo has had a huge season for Miami and has arguably been their best player. He is averaging a career high in both points (21.5 a game) and rebounds (10.5 a game) this season and has still been a great defender for Miami.
F: Jaylen Brown
I really think that Brown has been playing his best basketball of his career this season. While his standard (or advanced) numbers do not say that, 22.8 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.6 assists a game, the eye test has Brown looking so much more in control of his game this season and he should make the All-Star team because of it.
WC: Tyrese Maxey
The Sixers gave Maxey the keys when they traded James Harden and he is rewarding them by having his best season of his career. 26.0 points, 6.7 assists, and 1.1 steals per game, have Maxey as what should be a shoe-in for the All-Star game.
WC: Jimmy Butler
While Butler’s numbers are down from last season (when he was not an All-Star) I think that he has a more worthy case this season in large part due to Miami’s record.
With the announcement of the All-Star teams fast approaching, I figured it was time to put my ballot out there.
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