With about three weeks left until the reveal of the 2018 all-star game roster, and fan voting just beginning, we take a look at who’s most likely in and who’s most likely a snub. The 2018 all-star game will be unlike any other as Commissioner Adam Silver announced a few months ago a change to the format. Two captains will be picked by the top two players to receive the most fan votes. Those two will get a list of the players who made the all-star game and draft their teams. The ten total starters voted in will start 5v5 and the captains will draft those players along with their 7 bench players. As usual, 12 players will be picked from each Conference by a mixture of fan, player, and coach votes. Basically the typical East vs. West is no more as any of the 24 all-stars can be on a team together. So here are my picks of the rosters:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
THE SNUBS
Myles Turner
Center – Indiana Pacers – 14.6 PPG, 6.9 RPG, 1.6 APG, 2.4 BPG
A tough call here as Turner has definitely had a very great and productive season. In this case he probably just misses mainly due to his low rebound numbers for a big man. Definitely a threat to make it in years to come as he is only in his third year and has been improving year after year.
Kyle Lowry
Point Guard – Toronto Raptors – 16.2 PPG, 7 APG, 6.2 RPG, 1.2 SPG
Another tough call here as the star point guard has made the all-star team each of the last three seasons for Toronto. With many more emerging stars in the backcourt’s of the Eastern Conference, Lowry might be the odd man out by a hair. It’ll probably come down to either him or his teammate DeMar DeRozan making it and I’m leaning more towards DeRozan.
Ben Simmons
Point Guard – Philadelphia 76ers – 16.8 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 7.8 APG, 1.9 SPG
As Simmons enters the second half of his outstanding rookie season, many people have begun to compare the young phenom to his mentor LeBron James. After being taken 1st overall in 2016 and missing all of last year due to injury, Simmons has become the early leader for Rookie of the Year. With that being said, it will be tough for a rookie to make the all-star team this year and Simmons might get snubbed mainly for that. Also, taking two Sixers is not a priority as one of his other teammates is much more likely to make it.
THE STARTERS
LeBron James
Small Forward – Cleveland Cavaliers – 28.1 PPG, 9.1 APG, 8.1 RPG, 1.4 SPG
14th All-Star Appearance
Team Captain
It’s scary to think that in his 15th season and at almost 33-years-old, this man is having the best year of his career, but that’s exactly it. Shooting a ridiculous 56% from the field on about 18 shot attempts per night, James just seems to get better and better and is consistently dominating other competition across the league. No doubt the King will make his 14th all-star appearance in 15 years as he continues to stride up the list as the greatest to ever play the game.
Giannis Antetokoumpo
Power Forward – Milwaukee Bucks – 29.5 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 4.6 APG, 1.8 SPG
2nd All-Star Appearance
Probably the closest competitor with LeBron for league MVP is the Greek Freak who has become an arguably top 5 player in the NBA. Giannis has begun his rise a few years ago and put together his first all-star season last year. Milwaukee’s franchise player is now leading the team to an Eastern playoff spot and will most likely be an all-star starter.
Kristaps Porzingis
Power Forward – New York Knicks – 24.6 PPG, 6.7 RPG, 2.1 BPG, 1.2 APG
1st All-Star Appearance
One of the most notable faces of the NBA, Porzingis has capitalized in his new role as the number one guy in New York. He has absolutely taken advantage in his third year as he’s putting up great scoring and defensive stats leading the Knicks to a much improved season. The Unicorn is so notable around the league I can see him getting voted in from the fans as a starter for the East. Either way, Porzingis should easily be able to find his way onto his first all-star team.
Kyrie Irving
Point Guard – Boston Celtics – 24.7 PPG, 4.9 APG, 3 RPG, 1.2 SPG
5th All-Star Appearance
This past chaotic summer centered around Kyrie’s sudden trade request from Cleveland has absolutely worked in his favor. Now out of LeBron’s shadow in Cleveland, Kyrie has become his own franchise player in Boston and has lead them to another great start to the season. The big question here is with Kyrie and LeBron’s drama, is there a possibility one of them might draft the other to be on their team? We’ll just have to wait and see.
John Wall
Point Guard – Washington Wizards – 18.2 PPG, 8.9 APG, 3.7 RPG, 1 SPG
5th All-Star Appearance
The final starter I have coming out of the Eastern conference is John Wall. As one of the best playmakers in the game, Wall has become an icon across the league especially through his career long loyal devotion to Washington even through the many ups and downs the franchise has faced. Wall is an easy choice to make his fifth straight all-star appearance and I believe he will get the fan votes as well.
THE RESERVES
Bradley Beal
Shooting Guard – Washington Wizards – 23 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.1 SPG
1st All-Star Appearance
The first reserve from the East I have is Wall’s backcourt partner Bradley Beal. Beal has come into his own the last few years as one of the most consistent scorers in the league. Having his two best offensive seasons the last two years, Beal will most likely slide into a reserve spot.
DeMar DeRozan
Shooting Guard – Toronto Raptors – 24.1 PPG, 4.8 APG, 4.4 RPG, 1.2 SPG
4th All-Star Appearance
With another great offensive season, DeRozan has established himself as a threat across the league to be able to drop 30 on any given night. Being the leader of a tough Toronto team that has had trouble making it far in the playoffs, DeRozan wants to change that this year. Although his numbers are slightly down from last year, he might get the edge over teammate Kyle Lowry as a reserve. As I said before with the much deeper depth in the backcourt this year in the Eastern Conference, it will be very tough for both Lowry and DeRozan to make it again. Depending on how the two play over the next few weeks will truly decide who is guaranteed a spot (if either are).
Victor Oladipo
Shooting Guard – Indiana Pacers – 24.9 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 3.9 APG, 1.8 SPG
1st All-Star Appearance
Probably one of the best stories in basketball this season, Oladipo has proven everyone wrong and truly has found a home as the franchise player in Indiana. After spending his first three seasons in Orlando, Oladipo was traded to OKC on Draft Day 2016 as part of the Serge Ibaka trade. And after one season in Oklahoma City where Oladipo improved drastically and became a main supporting piece to Russell Westbrook’s MVP season, he was traded once again to Indiana in part of the Paul George trade. A trade that many thought was very one-sided in favor of Oklahoma City, has come back to haunt them as Victor has absolutely impressed in Indy. Maybe he’s just comfortable playing in the state of Indiana dating back to his great college career with the Hoosiers. Either way Oladipo is an easy all-star choice and most likely the front runner for Most Improved Player as well. The Pacers found a gem.
Kevin Love
Power Forward – Cleveland Cavaliers – 20.2 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.9 APG, 0.7 SPG
5th All-Star Appearance
Now in his fourth year in Cleveland, Love has shook off all the rust of moving into a system where he is not the number one guy. Putting up another 20/10 season like we saw in his earlier days in Minnesota, Love is another guarantee to be an all-star. He’s proven to be a great fit alongside LeBron and has moved into the number two option now with Kyrie in Boston.
Joel Embiid
Center – Philadelphia 76ers – 23.8 PPG, 11.1 RPG, 3.4 APG, 2 BPG
1st All-Star Appearance
Although he is now four years removed from being drafted, missing all of his first two seasons due to injury, Embiid only in his second season has put up some downright nasty numbers. The Process has been able to avoid his injury issues mostly this season and has instead become a main focal point in Philly. Although playing back to back games and very low stamina has still plagued Embiid’s performance, I think he is an obvious choice as a reserve and will find his way somehow on to the all-star team.
Andre Drummond
Center – Detroit Pistons – 14.2 PPG, 14.9 RPG, 3.6 APG, 1.4 SPG
2nd All-Star Appearance
One of the most durable and tenacious low-post players in the game, Drummond is having another very good year especially on the glass. Averaging no less than 13 rebounds a game since his rookie season, Andre could squeeze into his second all-star spot this year. Also shooting a career high 53.8% from the floor and 62.6% from the line (his next closest is 41.8%), Drummond has improved his offensive game a lot in the matter of a year.
Hassan Whiteside
Center – Miami Heat – 14.4 PPG, 12.4 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 0.4 APG
1st All-Star Appearance
Whiteside might just be able to find his way to his first all-star appearance this year despite several years of getting snubbed. Once again Hassan is putting up great numbers down low and leading a young Heat team to a sub-500 record. I think it would be tough to keep Hassan off the reserve list this year as the past two seasons his great stats weren’t enough to get him in.
WESTERN CONFERENCE
THE SNUBS
Nikola Jokic
Center – Denver Nuggets – 16.2 PPG, 10.1 RPG, 4.5 APG, 0.7 BPG
And thus begins the long list of Western Conference snubs, but stick with me it will make sense. Jokic is atop this list because he has been an animal no doubt and truly probably deserves an all-star nod. Say he was in the East, he would probably beat out a Whiteside or Drummond as a reserve but not in the West. Being the young face of an up and coming Nuggets team, Jokic will have plenty more opportunities in his career. With his talent, being a perennial all-star in the future is not far-fetched.
DeAndre Jordan
Center – Los Angeles Clippers – 11.1 PPG, 15.2 RPG, 1.2 APG, 1.1 BPG
No new member of the Western conference snub club is Jordan who has experienced his fair share of all-star rejections. Putting up consistently great rebounding and blocking stats, his lack of a consistent offensive game has set him apart from the other great big men in the league. Yes he’s a very good player as he is in pursuit for his third rebounding title and his third All-Defensive First Team selection. But his only all-star selection last year might be the one of few he ever receives.
Draymond Green
Power Forward – Golden State Warriors – 10.4 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 7.4 APG, 1.3 BPG
Possibly the leagues best defender and reigning Defensive Player of the Year, Green makes my snub list for a few reasons. He probably will get edged out do to the extreme amount of depth in the front court of the Western conference this season as many players have changed from East to West this past offseason. Making the all-star game merely on his defensive ability last season probably won’t fly again this year. The committee does like to find any possible reason it seems to get Green into the game as we saw last year but this year I really think he doesn’t belong.
Klay Thompson
Shooting Guard – Golden State Warriors – 20.6 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 2.5 APG, 0.7 SPG
The final snub on my list was my toughest one to decide on and it was Klay. Klay is definitely a perennial all-star and should make it in any other season but now. I very slightly edged him out due to the other demand the guards have brought in the West which was tough. Any type of injury should send Klay to the game if he ends up ultimately getting snubbed.
THE STARTERS
Kevin Durant
Small Forward – Golden State Warriors – 26.1 PPG, 7.1 RPG, 5.1 APG, 2.3 BPG
9th All-Star Appearance
Team Captain
No surprise by any means that KD will make his 9th straight all-star appearance. My main guess is that he will receive the second most votes among fans and he and LeBron will be the two captains drafting teams for the game. Just like the question if LeBron will draft Kyrie also lays the question will KD draft Westbrook if he gets the chance. A lot of tension still lies in between them as they are two very competitive and very good players with a reason to have tension after Durant left OKC for Golden State in the summer of 2016.
DeMarcus Cousins
Center – New Orleans Pelicans – 25.9 PPG, 12.1 RPG, 5.2 APG, 1.5 SPG
4th All-Star Appearance
Yet another stat-sheet stuffing season for Boogie who in my mind is the best Center in the NBA without a doubt. The amount he does across the board is insane and I think he’ll without a doubt be a starter. The only thing that still haunts Boogie is his inability to ever make it to the playoffs throughout his career in Sacramento and New Orleans. Pushing the playoff issue aside, Boogie is absolutely disgusting and I think is over looked in many regards across the NBA.
Paul George
Small Forward – Oklahoma City Thunder – 20.5 PPG, 5.7 RPG, 3.1 APG, 2.5 SPG
5th All-Star Selection
Probably my most debatable starter prediction is Paul George. Having another good season, definitely all-star worthy with great offensive stats and even better on-ball defense. I’m predicting the fans will come out big for George and he’ll get the vote to be a starter. Either way Paul will be back to the all-star game this year without a doubt.
Russell Westbrook
Point Guard – Oklahoma City Thunder – 24 PPG, 10 APG, 9.3 RPG, 2.1 SPG
7th All-Star Appearance
The reigning MVP, Mr. Triple Double, Brodie, whatever you want to call him he’ll be back in the all-star game, and furthermore in the MVP race again. A top 5 player in the league, Westbrook’s explosiveness and all around ability has lead him to a season averaging a triple double and is very close again this year. My guess is Russ will finish in third place in voting and make a push to possibly be the other captain alongside LeBron James.
Stephen Curry
Point Guard – Golden State Warriors – 26.3 PPG, 6.6 APG, 5.1 RPG, 1.7 SPG
5th All-Star Appearance
The two-time MVP and two-time NBA champ will obviously be back as he’s leading his Warriors to another dynamic season, miles ahead of the competition. Steph has missed several games due to injury but the fan vote might be more than enough to get him in. As long as he doesn’t miss an extended period of time I think he’s safe to be a starter.
THE RESERVES
James Harden
Point Guard – Houston Rockets – 32.4 PPG, 9.2 APG, 5.2 RPG, 1.8 SPG
6th All-Star Appearance
In any other year, decade, league, or whatever, Harden would be a starter but the fan vote might be too much in Steph and Russ’s favor for him to make it. Either way, Harden is another obvious choice for his sixth straight all-star appearance as the Beard is putting on another offensive clinic across the league. Harden is definitely a top candidate for the MVP after getting snubbed for Russ last year.
Jimmy Butler
Shooting Guard – Minnesota Timberwolves – 21.2 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.8 APG, 1.8 SPG
4th All-Star Appearance
Another player to jump from the East to the West is Butler who was traded from Chicago to Minnesota on Draft Day 2017. Jimmy has continued his cold-blooded attack into his tenure in Minnesota as he has become one of the leaders of a young and good Wolves team. Looking to make their first playoff appearance since the Garnett era, Butler has shown up and lead them all the way up. I think an all-star spot for Butler will be available and will end up pushing guys like Klay Thompson out.
Damian Lillard
Point Guard – Portland Trail Blazers – 25.2 PPG, 6.4 APG, 5 RPG, 1 SPG
3rd All-Star Appearance
Talking about some of the biggest snubs in the NBA you have to bring up Lillard. Since his rookie year, Lillard has been the top offensive weapon in Portland and has become the face of their franchise. Getting snubbed back-to-back years in 2016 and 2017 can only mean that Lillard has to make it this year. Due to a tough crowd of Western guards the past few years, Lillard has been the odd man out but this year he needs to be put in. As anyone with a 25/6/5 line should, Lillard should find a spot on the reserves in the West.
Devin Booker
Shooting Guard – Phoenix Suns – 24.6 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 4.2 APG, 0.9 SPG
1st All-Star Appearance
My boldest pick of them all is the third year guard out of Kentucky, Devin Booker. With a 70-point game already under his belt of accolades in his career, I think all-star should be the next up. He definitely has the numbers to make it but the big question will be is the several games he missed due to injury enough to not put him in altogether. I don’t think it should be but then again I’m just a sports blogger. I like everything about Booker’s game and although he is questionable to be put in this year, he will be a perennial all-star in this league.
Anthony Davis
Power Forward – New Orleans Pelicans – 25.4 PPG, 10.4 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.1 BPG
5th All-Star Appearance
What can you say about The Brow besides the fact he puts up consistently filthy numbers year after year. Alongside Boogie, NOLA’s front court is one of the scariest in the league and could be enough to bring the Pelicans into the playoffs. No matter what Davis will find a way into his fifth straight all-star game. Crazy to think two guys on the same team can average 25/10+ but Cousins and Davis have found a way.
LaMarcus Aldridge
Power Forward – San Antonio Spurs – 22.1 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 2 APG, 1.1 BPG
6th All-Star Appearance
Now in his third year in San Antonio, it seems Aldridge has finally gotten back to the old LA12 we knew in Portland. After having a heart to heart with Coach Gregg Popovich this past summer, Aldridge has figured out the best way he fits on the court in the Spurs system and has capitalized on it. This one will be another close call with possibly Jokic or Draymond getting in instead of LaMarcus. I truly think Aldridge is more deserving and in a season where Kawhi Leonard has been injured almost all of it, LA has stepped up as the leader of the team.
Karl-Anthony Towns
Center – Minnesota Timberwolves – 20.3 PPG, 11.7 RPG, 2.1 APG, 1.5 BPG
1st All-Star Appearance
My final choice, now in his third season, the former number one pick has become the face of the Wolves franchise. Having another great season and one where he got snubbed last year, I think KAT is a layup to make the all-star team this year. Towns’ all around athleticism and ability reminds me of what DeMarcus Cousins later became after a few years in the league. The fact he is at this point in only his third year is scary as Towns can be an all-time great when it’s all said and done.
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