All-Star voting has opened, and PerSources, as you all know, is big on the NBA. Fans, analysts, and reporters start to cast their votes for the best of the best. We’ve discussed our All-Star starter predictions. Now, we look to take the more complicated route and discuss who the reserves will be.
Eastern Conference
Backcourt Reserve: Kyle Lowry
The Raptors’ second-best player has come out of his shell this season. Under the system of Nick Nurse, Lowry seems to have broken off all the restrictions he had before. Averaging 14.4 points, 4.5 rebounds, and 9.8 assists this season, Lowry, alongside Kawhi Leonard, has propelled the Raptors to favorites in the East.
Lowry is also second in the league in assists which shows the improvement made this year to his game. He may even be in line for a starting spot, but there’s no doubt he deserves the All-Star nod.
Backcourt Reserve: Ben Simmons
Ben Simmons was arguably one of the biggest snubs for last year’s All-Star game, but in my opinion, his spot is solidified due to the great year he’s having. Even without a jump-shot in sight, Simmons is averaging 15.9 points, 9.4 rebounds, and 8.1 assists. He does everything but shoot for the 76ers, but that doesn’t stop him from being an All-Star.
The 76ers being at 23-13 is largely in part to Simmons and what he brings to the team. His usage rate has dropped this season, but that’s a given considering Jimmy Butler is now his teammate. All things considered, Simmons is an All-Star. Hopefully coaches think so too.
Frontcourt Reserve: Jimmy Butler
This makes three 76ers on the All-Star team, but it’s deserved. Jimmy Butler’s number decline is imminent considering the talent around him. Even through the changes, he’s putting up averages of 18.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists.
In clutch situations on both offense and defense, Butler has been the guy the 76ers have went to. If we’re looking for the seven best Eastern Conference players who aren’t starters, Jimmy Butler certainly fits that bill this season.
With him on the 76ers, it gives “the process” a little more speed because of the fact that the Sixers are now serious contenders. Butler, alongside Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid, will show that the Sixers can hang in the East. But for now, Jimmy Butler certainly deserves an All-Star nod this season.
Frontcourt Reserve: Blake Griffin
Blake Griffin was once received as the best PF in the NBA. Although that may not be the case today, this season has been one of the best seasons in his career. The Pistons forward is currently averaging a career-high 25 points to go along with 8.9 rebounds and 5.2 assists. They’re in the hunt for a playoff spot, but there’s no debate that Griffin’s play has been exceptional.
The big man continues to excel in the paint as well as develop an above average jump-shot. This season, he’s been one of the most versatile big men in today’s NBA. Blake should be going to his fifth All-Star game.
Frontcourt Reserve: Nikola Vucevic
This All-Star selection may be surprising, but Vucevic has been putting in the work this season for the Magic. The Montenegrin center is averaging 20.5 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 3.7 assists. He’s not the flashy player all the fans are used to but he’s a silent killer.
I personally have kept an eye on Vucevic for about two seasons, and it’s safe to say that he’s elevated his game each year. “Slowly but surely” are the right words to use to describe his skill-set and what he’s able to do on the court. The Magic may not be playing up to snuff, but Vucevic is putting in the work and more.
Wild-Card Reserve: Victor Oladipo
The Pacers are back to competing for the first time since their contender days with Paul George. Oladipo has been nothing but a blessing for the Pacers, and that includes this season as well. He’s averaging 19.5 points, 6.4 rebounds, and 5.4 assists. Although he’s missed 12 games this season, he’s been playing at an All-Star level.
All the talk in the East before the season had been about the Raptors, Celtics, and 76ers. Despite that, Oladipo has led the Pacers to a 24-12 record, which is third in the East. Oladipo received his first All-Star nod last season, and his performances this season have proved he deserves another one.
Wild Card Reserve: Bradley Beal
This last spot was very hard. In my opinion, this spot will either go to Khris Middleton, Zach Lavine, Andre Drummond, or Bradley Beal. Ultimately, I think Bradley Beal gets it. It hasn’t been a stellar year for anyone on the Wizards, especially Dwight Howard, but that’s another story for another article.
Bradley Beal, despite the Wizards’ struggles, is performing well. He’s averaging 23.8 points, 4.9 rebounds, and 4.7 assists. Those are all career-highs for the 25-year-old. Unfortunately, his career year isn’t resulting in wins for his team. However, this shouldn’t stop him from reaching the All-Star game for the second time. The Wizards? Bad this season. Bradley Beal? Good this season. All-Star? Yes sir.
Western Conference
Backcourt Reserve: Damian Lillard
Some seasons you can say he got snubbed. Other seasons you can say he didn’t deserve it. Despite that, this season, it’s clear as day that Lillard deserves to be an All-Star.
In the highly competitive Western Conference, the Trail Blazers are 20-15, largely because of Damian Lillard. He’s averaging 26.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.8 assists.
Lillard has always been one of the NBA’s best PG and one of the league’s most clutch players. All of this has continued through this season, and Lillard has been good enough, in my opinion, to earn his fourth All-Star nomination.
Backcourt Reserve: Russell Westbrook
There’s simply no denying that Russell Westbrook is an All-Star this season. The one-time MVP has taken a backseat to Paul George scoring wise but has excelled in all other areas. Westbrook is averaging 21 points, 10.8 rebounds, and 10.2 assists. Despite the fact that his points have decreased, he’s in line to average a triple-double for the third straight season. That itself is insane and deserving of an All-Star nod. This goes along with the fact that the Thunder are second in the Western Conference. Russell Westbrook will get his eighth All-Star appearance.
Frontcourt Reserve: Paul George
Speaking of the Thunder – in the stacked Western Conference, Paul George has been performing exceptionally well. In a new offense built around him rather than Russell Westbrook, it’s worked out very well for the Thunder. George is averaging 26.3 points, 8.4 rebounds, and 4.3 assists which are all career-highs. Not to mention the Thunder currently hold a 22-12 record, which is good for second place in the Western Conference.
A career year for Paul George is resulting in wins for the Thunder and perhaps a rising threat to the Warriors. He’s been nothing less than a pure scorer this season and more than deserves to be in this year’s All-Star game.
Frontcourt Reserve: Nikola Jokic
“The gummy bear” has been absolutely eating this season. The 7’0″ Nuggets center has Denver playing their best basketball in years. They’re surprisingly 22-11, which is first in the Western Conference.
Obviously, there are many pieces that bring the team together, but Jokic has been the biggest of them all. This season, he’s averaging 17.8 points, 9.8 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. He’s done this with pure finesse, as he’s shown he can truly do it all this season. He can score in the paint, midrange, and from behind the arc. Like every center, he can snag the ball, but his efficient distribution is his best attribute.
The way Jokic has been playing this season makes him more than deserving of being in the All-Star game. He may even have his coaches there as well.
Frontcourt Reserve: Karl-Anthony Towns
Did you really think the Jimmy Butler drama would distract you from the fact that Karl-Anthony Towns is really good at basketball? Through everything that has gone down this season, one constant has been the play of Towns. He’s currently averaging 21.7 points, 11.8 rebounds, and 2.7 assists.
The Timberwolves are 16-19, 13th in the West, but they’re very close to a playoff spot. Towns’ play has been fantastic for Minnesota, and his play has been that of an All-Star. Hopefully, coaches deem Karl-Anthony Towns worthy of his second All-Star nod.
Wild-Card Reserve: Devin Booker
There’s no doubt in anyone’s mind that the Suns are terrible. This doesn’t mean they can’t have an All-Star. Devin Booker is having a career year. He’s averaging 25.2 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 7.2 assists. The Suns do have the worst record in the West, but Booker has been stellar.
Shooting the lights out and driving to the rim with confidence has given Booker a career-high in points so far this season. Furthermore, his increased distribution of the ball has earned him a career-high in assists. I think Booker makes it in. If the coaches don’t vote him in, it’ll likely have to do with the number of wins he’s led his team to. Nevertheless, Devin Booker deserves to be an All-Star.
Wild-Card Reserve: Tobias Harris
The last spot in the All-Star game goes to Tobias Harris. He’s not a flashy player for the Clippers, but he’s their best player. He’s been silently doing work for the best basketball team in L.A. Harris is averaging 21.1 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 2.2 assists. This is his best year as far as points go, and the Clippers are 21-14 (4th in the West). Is it too wild to say that the Clippers can contend in the West? If not, Tobias Harris is without a doubt a huge part of that. He deserves his first All-Star nod.
Final List
East:
- PG Kyrie Irving
- PG Kemba Walker
- SF Kawhi Leonard
- SF Giannis Antetokoumpo
- C Joel Embiid
- PG Kyle Lowry
- PG Ben Simmons
- SF Jimmy Butler
- PF Blake Griffin
- C Nikola Vucevic
- SG Victor Oladipo
- SG Bradley Beal
West:
- PG Stephen Curry
- SG James Harden
- SF LeBron James
- SF Kevin Durant
- C Anthony Davis
- PG Damian Lillard
- PG Russell Westbrook
- SF Paul George
- C Nikola Jokic
- C Karl-Anthony Towns
- SG Devin Booker
- PF Tobias Harris
This projected list of All-Star players may be obvious to some and debatable to others. Either way, every player on this list deserves it. These picks are also just opinions. Do you feel that I got a starter and/or a reserve wrong? Do you have different opinions as to who should be in the ASG? Debate and/or discuss with me.