Today is the day where captains and starters will be revealed for the 2021 NBA All-Star Game. After a lot of contemplating and switching, I was finally able to compile my roster for each respective conference.
Eastern Conference Starters
Backcourt
James Harden
Since joining the Nets, he’s been dominant and assumed the point guard effectively. He’s also been averaging 24.3 PPG, 8.4 RPG, 11.8 APG, leading the league in assists.
Jaylen Brown
Leading the Celtics through injury absences to their other top dogs (Tatum, Walker at times, and Smart), Brown’s continuing his ascension, averaging a career-high in points and assists. 25.9 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 3.6 APG.
Frontcourt
Kevin Durant
Ahead of where most expected for him to be in his road back, KD has been as good as ever. He’s shooting a career-high percentage from the field (52.4%) and 3P% (43.4%). All the while enjoying a healthy 29 PPG, 7.3 RPG, and 5.3 APG.
Giannis Antetokounmpo
Though his game and efficiency haven’t changed much, that means he is still elite and as good as every. Whether improvements materialize or even surface remains to be seen, nonetheless he’s still averaging 28.2 PPG, 11.4 RPG, and 5.8 APG.
Joel Embiid
Owning the best record in the East, he’s been the driving force to the Sixers and their dominance. Embiid is enjoying a career high in points while also in FG% (54%), 3P% (39.7%), steals (1.3) and FT% + FTAs (85.1% on 11.3 attempts). He’s averaging 29.7 PPG, 10.8 RPG, and 3.1 APG.
Eastern Conference Reserves
Backcourt
Kyrie Irving
Though he had his early season episode, he’s been nothing less than an all-star while at the office. Had he not taken his leave of absence, he would certainly be a starter in my opinion. Nonetheless, he’s averaging a career-high 28 PPG, with 4.6 RPG and 5.7 APG to boot, with seven 30+ point outings.
Bradley Beal
Leading the league in scoring, Beal is averaging 32.8 PPG, 5.2 RPG, and 4.7 APG. He has a 60-point outing under his belt, and two other games over the 40-point threshold.
Frontcourt
Jayson Tatum
A stint with Covid has surely hurt his game some of late, and he’s admitted that his conditioning has been a struggle to reestablish in his return. Before his leave, he was averaging 27 PPG on 47% from the field and 44% from deep. As it stands, he’s at 25.8 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 4.7 APG.
Domantas Sabonis
Underrated and often forgotten, Sabonis is averaging 21.5 PPG which is a career-high. In addition, 11.6 RPG, and 5.7 APG. There’s certainly players better than him, but his teams in 4th (ahead of expectations), and his value and impact on the Pacers has to warrant another selection for him. Which would be his second consecutive.
Julius Randle
In what has been the most surprising development of the season, the 14-16 Knicks have their sights set on meaningful basketball down the home stretch of the season. At the helm of this effort has been Julius Randle, averaging a career-highs in points, 23.2, rebounds, 10.9, and assists, 5.5.
Eastern Conference Wildcards
Zach LaVine
Snubbed last season, LaVine is even more deserving of a selection this season. His last six games, he’s scored 37, 30, 26, 46, 35, 39. On the season, he’s averaging a career-high 28.5 (+3 points from last seasons then career-high), 4.7 RPG, and 5.2 AST which are both highs as well.
Trae Young
Catching a lot of flack for the style of play (ref-baiting) he’s adopted, he’s still been effective. His teams success has been a let down of sorts, but he is averaging 26.5 PPG, 3.8 RPG, and 9.3 APG.
Western Conference Starters
Backcourt
Stephen Curry
Wrote about him last week in my Friday Five’s, his efficiency has been as good as every and his raw numbers + advanced stats are on par with his peak in the unanimous MVP season. This year, he’s averaging 30 PPG, 5.3 RPG, 6.0 APG while leading the Warriors well past deemed expectations coming into this season sans Klay Thompson.
Damian Lillard
I’ll just let this stat speak for itself.
Even more, he’s led his team to a 4th place ranking while without 3/5s of his deemed starting lineup to play with this season. He deserves to be starting while also legit in the MVP discussion. Dame is averaging 29.8 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 7.7 APG.
Frontcourt
Kawhi Leonard
The Fun Guy has remained on brand this season while now navigating without the services of Paul George. Kawhi is averaging 26.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG, and 5.9 APG.
LeBron James
What more can be said about LeBron? He’s reinvented himself a few times over to accommodate team needs and has done so as effectively as ever before. His running mate Anthony Davis has not been himself thus far due to injury, and is now out. So LeBrons current averages may seen another spike up. As it stands, he’s averaging 25.7 PPG, 8.2 RPG, 7.9 APG.
Nikola Jokic
The Joker has been on another level this season. Somewhat disappointing play from his relied upon teammates has not stagnated his individual production one bit. He’s currently averaging career-highs at 27.4 PPG, 11.1 RPG, aand 8.6 APG.
Western Conference Reserves
Backcourt
Chris Paul
Wins and team boosts in effectiveness and contention follow the point god wherever he goes, and Phoenix has been no different through 27 games. They’re positioned 5th in the West and have still yet to reach their true peak. He’s been one of the leagues best in crunch time and continues to age gracefully while remaining as effective as ever, not unlike his best friend LeBron James. CP has been Phoenix’s most effective player this season, and is averaging 17.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 8.2 APG.
Luka Doncic
The Mavericks as a whole have been disappointing, but Luka has begun to look more like he did last season, which was remarkable. He’s averaging 29.1 PPG, 8.6 RPG, 9.4 APG and seems to finally be clicking with his teammates offensively.
Frontcourt
Paul George
After all the jokes, memes, and scrutiny, George responded spending a lot of this season as the best player on the Clippers. He’s been shooting the living life out of the ball especially from deep, enjoying a shooting slash of 50.8/47.8/90.5. Hes averaging 24.4 PPG, 6.2 RPG, and a career-high 5.5 APG.
Zion Williamson
Finally starting to come in in an assertive manner, Zion has been dominant of late. Over the last six games he’s averaging 29.6 PPG, 5.1 RPG, and 4.4 APG. On the season, he’s averaging 25 PPG, 6.8 RPG, and 3.1 APG.
Rudy Gobert
The Stifle Tower has been just that for the Jazz, anchoring their defense and leading the best defense in the NBA. He’s averaging a career-high in blocks at 2.7, and is averaging 14.2 PPG, 13.4 RPG, 1.3 APG.
Western Conference Wildcards
Donovan Mitchell
Spida has come on of late, after just a solid start to the season. Over the last eight, he’s averaging 27 PPG. On the season he’s now averaging a career-high 24.2 APG, 4.4 RPG, and 5.1 APG.
Devin Booker
A first time selection, Devin Booker has left some to be desired this season as a whole. He’s averaging 24.4 PPG, 3.7 RPG, and 4.4 APG. However in nine games since returning from his hamstring injury, he’s averaging 26.8 PPG.
In Conclusion…
Alright, those are my picks for this years All-Star Game! What did your teams look like for this years game?
The NBA will be announcing both starters and captains tonight on TNT.
Then, on Tuesday, the coaches picks for the seven reserves for each team will be announced.
Let’s see what how each roster shapes out. Also, its snub season so let’s see who is deserving and doesn’t make it. As deserving talents not making it is inevitable.
Perspectives by Stephen 