Oct 23, 2019; Dallas, TX, USA; Dallas Mavericks forward Luka Doncic (77) reacts during the game against the Washington Wizards at American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
11.
It’s October and for hoop heads around the world it's time to get hyped for a new NBA season. And after a wild free agency frenzy this past summer, the 2019-20 campaign has so many fresh storylines that it’s hard to follow. For instance…
Can James Harden and Russell Westbrook find a way to mesh together in Houston?
Are the Celtics better off with Kemba Walker running the point instead of Kyrie Irving?
Will it be the new-look Lakers or the new-look Clippers writing a Hollywood ending to their script?
While those are just some of the more intriguing narratives coming into 2019-20, it has become normal to see young stars emerge in the Association, with a select few receiving enough votes from fans, media members, players and coaches to garner their first All-Star Game selection. Guys like Victor Oladipo, Karl-Anthony Towns, Kristaps Porzingis, Joel Embiid, Goran Dragić, Bradley Beal, Ben Simmons, D'Angelo Russell, Nikola Vučević, Khris Middleton, and Nikola Jokić have each earned the honor of an All-Star nod over the past two seasons, solidifying their status with one standout performance after another.
With that in mind, we examined which NBA players have the best chance to make their first All-Star roster when the league’s best meet in Chi-town this February for the event’s 69th edition.
10.Zach LaVine
Despite suffering a torn ACL in 2017 and being traded to Chicago four months later, this two-time slam dunk champion has continued to improve over his first five seasons and had his best output yet in 2018-19 at 23.7 points per game on 46.7 percent shooting. The Bulls don’t have a lot to surround LaVine with given their youth and lack of experience, but the UCLA product should be the go-to guy once again for a team that’s coming off a dreadful 22-win season. And even with the festivities being held in Chicago this season, we don’t see LaVine getting an All-Star nod quite yet.
9.Mike Conley Jr.
One of the biggest trades during the off-season was unquestionably Utah’s acquisition of Conley, who had spent his entire 12-year career with the Grizzlies up until that point. And good news for Jazz fans: the former No. 4 overall draft pick averaged a career-best 21.1 points in addition to his 6.4 assists per game last season. So, if there’s ever a time Conley is going to make an All-Star roster, it’s probably now—though at the age of 32, that chance might have already passed him by with young, up-and-coming studs like Donovan Mitchell and Emmanuel Mudiay also splitting time in the backcourt.
8.Devin Booker
Considering the offensive numbers Booker has put up over the last three seasons, it’s hard to believe that he’s still only 22 years old. At 26.6 points per game for the Western Conference’s worst team in 2018-19, the Kentucky standout has often been overlooked on a team that regularly wins less than 20 games. But Booker was efficient himself, shooting 46.7 percent from the field while also dishing out a career-high 6.8 assists. As the Suns continue to rebuild with Monty Williams now at the helm, it’s going to take quite a lot for their best player to get any sort of All-Star consideration.
7.De'Aaron Fox
The Kings have gotten off to a rocky start this season, but if anyone is going to lead the turnaround it's going to be their stud point guard, who has emerged as an elite talent in this league. The West is clearly loaded, especially at guards, so this won't be an easy task for Fox, but if he continues on this star trajectory, there's a shot he could get the call. One thing is for sure, the Kings need to play way better going forward, or all of this Fox All-Star talk is pretty mute.
6.Donovan Mitchell
With the additions of Mike Conley Jr. and Bojan Bogdanovic, the Jazz appear primed to make a lot more noise after getting bounced in the first round of the playoffs by the Rockets last season. Mitchell, who has become a human highlight reel thanks to thunderous dunks like this one, remains a big piece to the puzzle with his team-high 23.8 points per game in 2018-19. Plus, after seeing his averages for assists and rebounds rise during his second year, the undersized shooting guard out of Louisville may have a strong case to make as a potential All-Star if Utah can stay among the top five in the West.
5.CJ McCollum
Damian Lillard undoubtedly gets a lot of the praise in Portland, especially after the Blazers’ deep playoff run to the Western Conference Finals last season, but McCollum reminded us down the stretch that he’s as good as any sidekick out there. That’s why the league’s 2015-16 Most Improved Player was rewarded handsomely this off-season with a three-year, $100 million contract extension. Now after averaging more than 20 points per game over the last four seasons, it’s time that the former Lehigh star join some rather elite company knowing that he can carry a team on his back even when Lillard can’t.
4.Tobias Harris
When the Clippers shipped Harris to Philadelphia at the trade deadline last season, it was understood that the 76ers were getting someone who knows how to put the ball in the basket. Harris, who at the time was averaging a career-best 20.9 points per game, cemented his future with the team after signing a five-year, $180 million contract extension this past off-season. Of course, standing out in a starting lineup that already includes Ben Simmons and Joel Embiid can be challenging, but it’s Harris’ ability to shoot the ball from range that will make him a valuable asset and likely All-Star candidate. Plus, he plays in the East where we all know it's much easier to make an All-Star squad.
3.Luka Doncic
After watching Doncic navigate his first NBA season, it came as no surprise why he was named the league’s 2018-19 Rookie of the Year. The 20-year-old Slovenian played well beyond his years, delivering 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 6.0 assists for an underachieving Mavericks team that waved goodbye to Dirk Nowitzki after two decades. With Nowitzki out of the picture going forward, Doncic's success could depend largely upon the partnership he builds with his new teammate Kristaps Porzingis, who’s coming off an ACL injury and a tumultuous final year in New York before being traded and signing a five-year contract with Dallas this off-season.
2.Trae Young
Yeah, it's early. But if Young's going to score like a wild-child every single night for the up and coming Hawks, it's going to be impossible to ignore him for the All-Star team in February. Young made a strong push during the second half of last season to snatch Rookie of the Year honors from Luka Doncic and he's already off to an impressive start in his sophomore campaign after he poured in 38 points and nearly had a triple-double. We know Young can't defend, but he can light it up like few others. And let's not forget that he's fun to watch. In terms of competition in the East at the point guard position, Young's going to have to fight it out with Ben Simmons, Kyrie Irving, and Kemba Walker. But if the pint-sized PG averages 25-plus per game, it's going to be awfully tough to keep him off the squad this season.
1.Pascal Siakam
Siakam should be a lock All-Star this season. He's now the guy in Toronto and has started the season on a tear for the Raptors. After people originally questioned how Siakam would look without Kawhi Leonard in town, he casually went out and dropped 30-plus over the first two games of the season. Not only is Siakam one of the best players in the East, but he's also playing in a conference that is down on stars overall. Nobody should be shocked when Siakam gets the nod in February.