We as BS writers decided to collaborate and form our own All-Star teams. We are making this based on what we see and decide what we believe the team’s should be, not what we think the teams will be.
West:
Starters:
G: Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)
PPG: 29.1
RPG: 9.6
APG: 9.0
GP: 40
Luka has arguably been a top 3 MVP candidate to this point of the season and the numbers don’t lie. He makes players around him better and can score from all 3 levels. He also gets to the line 9.2 times per game. His team is 5th in the West at 28-16, and he is a huge reason why.
G: James Harden (Houston Rockets)
PPG: 36.6
RPG: 6.2
APG: 7.4
GP: 42
It’s hard to make a case that Harden doesn’t belong here. He is scoring 6.6 PPG more than the second leading scorer in the NBA. He is continuing to dominate and deserves to be a starter.
F: LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)
PPG: 25.2
RPG: 7.7
APG: 10.8
GP: 43
LeBron has had a resurrection in his 17th year and has been the best player to this point in the West. He is leading the NBA in APG and his team is first in the West at 36-9.
F: Kawhi Leonard (Los Angeles Clippers)
PPG: 27.4
RPG: 7.4
APG: 5.0
GP: 34
While Kawhi has missed 11 games, he has still been dominant when on the court. Kawhi Leonard is still playing like one of the NBA’s best two-way wings and deserves to be a starter.
C: Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)
PPG: 26.2
RPG: 9.2
BPG: 2.5
GP: 38
While he does have LeBron, he has been absolutely great this year. The offense is built through him and he has not disappointed. He has also been maybe the defensive player of the year with his ability to defend in the pick and roll and be a rim protector for the best team in the West.
Bench:
G: Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers)
PPG: 28.3
RPG: 4.2
APG: 7.6
GP: 44
Once again, Lillard has been playing at a high level. He is still talented and despite his team’s struggles and injury setbacks, he is still an All-Star.
G: Donovan Mitchell (Utah Jazz)
PPG: 24.7
RPG: 4.2
APG: 4.2
GP: 43
Donovan Mitchell has been having a great season and is responsible for creating a lot of the offense out of pick and rolls. Mitchell can score from all 3 levels and has a 6’10 wingspan to disrupt guards defensively. He makes this offense go and has helped carry the Jazz to being the second best team in the West
F: LaMarcus Aldridge (San Antonio Spurs)
PPG: 19.4
RPG: 7.5
BPG: 1.8
GP: 41
There is an argument to be made for who is the best player on the Spurs between LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar Derozen, but Aldridge has the better three point shot and has been a rim protector averaging 1.8 BPG. DeMar offers little defensively so that’s why Aldridge is the top Spur candidate. Aldridge is still playing his game with his back to the basket on the block and is still very efficient. He also has been able to stretch the defense and is hitting 42.6% of his 3s.
C: Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)
PPG: 19.4
RPG: 10.0
APG: 6.4
GP: 44
The Nuggets have been flying under the radar, but Jokic is still leading the team to becoming another top 4 seed in the West so far as they are 1 game back from being second in the West. Jokic has a lot of responsibility as he leads the team in points, assists, and rebounds while playing in every game so far this season.
C: Rudy Gobert (Utah Jazz)
PPG: 15.6
RPG:14.5
BPG: 2.0
GP: 42
Rudy Gobert has never made an all-star game, because he doesn’t score like other bigs in the NBA, but Gobert is so vital to what the Jazz do. The Jazz are 2nd in the West, and Gobert has the highest Plus-Minus among all other Jazz players. It’s about time he gets some recognition.
G: Chris Paul (Oklahoma City Thunder)
PPG: 17.0
RPG: 5.0
APG: 6.4
GP: 45
The Thunder have been one of the most surprising teams this year and Chris Paul has a lot to do with that. It’s evident that Chris Paul is out to prove he is still a great player in this league and has brought it every night. The Thunder are 26-19 and deserve to have a representative in the 2020 All-Star game. There is an argument to be made that Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, however he has not been quite as consistent in win vs loss and being productive consistently.
G: Devin Booker (Phoenix Suns)
PPG: 26.5
RPG: 4.1
APG: 6.3
GP: 41
Booker has always been able to put up numbers, but this year has been different. Devin has became a much more efficient scorer and is very selfless. The Suns have had setbacks with injuries and suspensions, but Booker has been able to put up points while playing within the rhythm of the offense.
Alternates:
F: Brandon Ingram (New Orleans Pelicans)
PPG: 26.5
RPG: 4.1
APG: 6.3
GP: 40
Brandon Ingram has made huge strides and has totally changed his narrative. Ingram is proving he can be a top 1 or 2 scoring option on a good team. His length allows him to get his shot off almost any time he wants. While the Pelicans haven’t been great this year, Ingram is putting up All-Star caliber numbers. While part of it helps that they play a fast pace offense, he has still had a remarkable season.
F: Paul George (Los Angeles Clippers)
PPG: 26.5
RPG: 4.1
APG: 6.3
GP: 26
Many fans would be disappointed if George didn’t make the All-Star team, but there are a lot of qualified candidates in the West and he has only participated in 26 games. It’s hard to put him over guys who have played 40+ games and are putting up close to the same numbers. Nonetheless, he is a great NBA player and should definitely be considered.
East:
Starters:
G: Trae Young (Atlanta Hawks)
PPG: 29.2
RPG: 4.7
APG: 8.7
GP: 40
I think the numbers do tell some lies. His team plays at a fast pace, which means more opportunities to score, as well as having injuries around him so he is forced to be the scorer. While this might have inflated his numbers, it’s incredible to see how well he has played and I don’t put the blame on him as to why the Hawks aren’t winning. Like I mentioned previously, there have been several injuries around him as well as the John Collin’s suspension so in the games they did win, it was usually because he had to take the game over.
G: Kemba Walker (Boston Celtics)
PPG: 21.7
RPG: 4.0
APG: 5.0
GP: 38
Kemba Walker has been very solid this year and has been a great fit with the Celtics. He has made his teammates better, and this team is starting to really become a dark-horse contender in the East. The Celtics are 4th in the East. Also, the competition for a starting guard in the East is fairly thin this year, so that works in his favor.
F: Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat)
PPG: 20.3
RPG: 7.0
APG: 6.5
GP: 38
I would be the first person to say that Jimmy Butler deserves a lot of blame for what has gone wrong throughout his career, but Jimmy Butler is still very talented. He has been the catalyst for the Heat and has made them a competitive team and are sitting pretty in 2nd in the East right now (That could change quickly though as only 3 games seperate the 2nd and 6th seed). He has been the leader to this team and deserves the recognition for it.
F: Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)
PPG: 30.0
RPG: 12.9
APG: 5.6
GP: 42
Giannis has led his team to a 39-6 record. He has been unquestionably the best player in the East to this point, and it is no surprise that he got voted as a captain.
C: Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)
PPG: 23.4
RPG: 12.3
BPG: 1.3
GP: 31
Embiid is the most talented center in the East, and while he might have missed 15 games, the next best front court player is Pascal Siakam but he also missed 11 games. Embiid was so productive though all things considered and hasn’t always been able to play in the post, because Ben SImmons still doesn’t have a jump shot. Embiid has been great on both ends of the floor and has done everything that has been asked of him.
Bench:
G: Ben Simmons (Philadelphia 76ers)
PPG: 16.0
RPG: 7.8
APG: 8.5
GP: 44
Ben Simmons is a great talent. While he may not have a jumper, he provides for his team in many other ways. He is one of the best passers in the NBA especially when finding shooters. Simmon’s is also 1st in SPG. His playstyle isn’t your typical point guard, but he is a heck of a talent and has been a consistent force for the 76ers.
G: Zach LaVine (Chicago Bulls)
PPG: 25.0
RPG: 4.7
APG: 3.8
GP: 46
Zach LaVine had a slower start to the season, but he has averaged 27.2 PPG since December 1st and has looked the part as an All-Star. It’s undeniable to watch him these past couple months and not call him an All-Star, because he has been consistently taking over games. He also isn’t the same liability on the defensive end of the floor that was displayed earlier in his career. It’s notable LaVine’s been on a mission to try and make his first All-Star team while he has not missed a single game this season and is playing the best basketball of his career. A lot like Devin Booker, it is hard to punish him for being on a bad team when he is doing his part to win games.
F: Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)
PPG: 21.5
RPG: 6.9
APG: 2.9
GP: 41
Jayson Tatum has quietly been having a very good year. Tatum hasn’t always been the most efficient player as he shoots a lot of mid-range shots, but he is really talented as a scorer. He has also had the best Plus-Minus among all Celtics players and deserves credit for that.
F: Pascal Siakam (Toronto Raptors)
PPG: 23.5
RPG: 7.7
APG: 3.5
GP: 33
Even though Pascal Siakam won Most Improved Player last year, he has managed to make another leap this year in becoming more of a focal point. While it was obvious the Raptors were going to use him more with Kawhi gone, Siakam hasn’t disappointed. If it wasn’t for the fact that he missed 11 games, he’d definitely be a starter.
F: Domantas Sabonis (Indiana Pacers)
PPG: 17.9
RPG: 12.9
APG: 4.3
GP: 42
Sabonis was a player that got the opportunity to step into a larger role being able to start and has surpassed expectations. Sabonis is a skilled big man that can do a lot of different things for a team. He can score on the block, rebound, and pass at a high level for a big. Sabonis also has the second most screen assists per game as well. He has been the best player on a team that is 29-16. It was necessary to have a Pacer on this list for how successful they’ve been and he is the best candidate to be an All-Star.
F: Khris Middleton (Milwaukee Bucks)
PPG: 19.5
RPG: 5.7
APG: 3.9
GP: 39
Middleton’s numbers don’t look amazing by any means, but his efficiency speaks for itself. He is shooting 49.8% from the court and 41.9% from 3. He has been the clear #2 option for the best team in the NBA.
C: Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons)
PPG: 17.3
RPG: 15.7
BPG: 1.8
GP: 42
The Pistons have not always looked pretty this year, but Drummond has been dominating especially when Blake Griffin was out to start the year. When Griffin came back, his production dropped slightly, but Andre Drummond has still been the best rebounder in the NBA and one of the best defenders as well as he is 3rd in the NBA in deflections per game and averages 2.1 SPG to go along with 1.8 BPG.
Alternates:
G: Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors)
PPG: 20.0
RPG: 4.5
APG: 7.5
GP: 31
The Raptors don’t have a ton of talent across the board, but they have a great culture and Kyle Lowry is largely responsible for that. Lowry is a team player and a true leader. He plays hard on both ends and it shows as he is 2nd in charges drawn per game in the NBA. Lowry did miss 11 games though, which is a big reason why I have him only on the alternate list.
C Bam Adebayo (Miami Heat)
PPG: 15.8
RPG: 10.5
APG: 4.6
GP: 44
Bam Adebayo has been a consistent force for the Heat as he is versatile enough to defend on the perimeter as well as protect the rim. He is a strong rebounder and a great pick and roll finisher. Bam even can start the break himself as shown by the 4.6 APG. He has been a very important piece for the second best team in the East.
Overall: Two big factors we looked for were availability and winning. We passed on players like Karl-Anthony Towns, Paul George, Nikola Vucevic for players who maybe didn’t put up as great of numbers, but had more value to their teams, because they were able to stay on the floor. We also gave every team that was above .500 an all-star because it’s important to reward these teams that have been playing well. Thank you for reading. Hope you enjoyed it.
Article written by Bradley Patten
NBA All-Star 2020 Photo Credit to Wikapedia (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2020_NBA_All-Star_Game)
LeBron Photo Credit to Getty Images (https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nba/news/nba-all-star-2019-score-results-highlights-analysis-video-seven-crazy-stats-team-lebron-james-win-giannis-antetokounmpo/19cw21ubnqrwg16s4wexram24q)
Giannis Photo Credit to Getty Images (https://www.zimbio.com/photos/Giannis+Antetokounmpo/2019+NBA+All+Star+Game/kZxjELEuAc1)
All stats found NBA.com (https://stats.nba.com)
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