The time has finally come to reveal my full NBA All-Star teams. Yes, good people, you can finally breathe again, since I know everyone was holding theirs in anticipation. This is who I think should represent each conference, not who I think actually will be at the game. You may notice one noticeable omission here. And while I agree that an All-Star game without the NBA's 41st leading scorer, a player shooting a deadly .345/.250/.784 and currently ranking 372nd in Real Plus Minus, 193rd in Player Efficiency Rating, and 318th in True Shooting Percentage on a last place team can't be called a real All-Star game, somehow Kobe Bryant did not make my West roster. I can assure you he was the toughest cut.
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Starters:
G
Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors- It's kind of crazy to think about his development. I can still remember him from Villanova's crazy four-guard offense (still waiting for Mike Nardi to get a shot in the league) not even considering his NBA future. Then he was always kind of fat and had a bad attitude (BTW, not many things better than a fat point guard, so I loved him) before everything really clicked for him in Toronto. Now he's making another All-Star Game and is a no-brainer to start.
G
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls- Just about the only consistent bright spot in a weird Bulls season. Another guy who worked his way to NBA stardom. Seemingly never gets tired, no matter how much his coaches run him into the ground. I feel like there should be some kind of rule where if you score 50 in a game you get to be in the All-Star Game. He's been the best shooting guard in the East this season.
F
Lebron James, Cleveland Cavaliers- I mean, he's still Lebron. Even if he is quietly having his worst shooting season since 2008.
F
Paul George, Indiana Pacers- There's a couple different ways to finish out the East front court, and all of them are reasonable. I'm putting Paul George as one of them because he's carried the Pacers to an impressive record so far. Sure, the cupboard isn't exactly bare, but this isn't the same Pacers team that went to back to back Eastern Conference Finals. He's been surprisingly prolific from 3 this season and is still good on d.
F
Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks- It's really splitting hairs between him and Chris Bosh, both have been so good and really, really underrated. I'm going with Millsap because I think he adds more defensively than Bosh. He's been racking up blocks and steals this season, and uses his wide array of weird shots to score at a career high rate. He's another self-made All-Star. I remember when he first broke in with Utah he was just thought of as a beast on the glass, which he was, but his offensive game was always overlooked. He just keeps getting better, and will be making his third straight All-Star Game. Pretty good for a second round pick.
Reserves:
G
John Wall, Washington Wizards- Just about the only thing keeping the injury riddled, middling Wizards afloat is the East's assist leader.
G
DeMar DeRozan, Toronto Raptors- The other half of the East's highest scoring backcourt. He's added a lot to his game this season, and is getting to the line at will.
F
Carmelo Anthony, New York Knicks- His scoring may be slightly down, but his all-around game has taken a big step forward. He's actually passing willingly this season and he's crashing the glass harder than ever. Another All-Star game certainly helps his brand, which is what he really cares about.
F
Andre Drummond, Detroit Pistons- I was a sophomore at Uconn during his one season in Storrs, and I saw him around campus a few times, so we're pretty much bffs. He's dominating the glass and the inside, but his free throw shooting is mind-bogglingly terrible. I just don't get how you can be so bad at something you practice heavily every day. It'd be like if I was bad at searching Pornhub.
F
Chris Bosh, Miami Heat-He's been by far the Heat's best player, and is pretty much the key to every good offensive and defensive lineup they use. If he never cried after that first finals loss, I think people respect him more.
WC (wild card)
Isaiah Thomas, Boston Celtics- I already made my case for him
here. Read it.
WC
Kemba Walker, Charlotte Hornets- It was him, Al Horford, or Reggie Jackson for the last spot. Kemba has three things working for him. First, his shooting is vastly improved and he's been the driving force of the Hornets' surprisingly decent offense. Second, there's the recently established rule that if you score 50, you're in the All-Star Game. Third, well, my freshman year at Uconn just so happened to be his championship season. He was a god, and one time I ate at the same Applebee's as him. So, yeah, I'm biased.
Toughest cuts:
Al Horford,
Reggie Jackson,
Greg Monroe,
Brook Lopez,
Kristaps Porzingis
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Starters:
G
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors- I know we have a tendency to glorify the past, but if you're one of the few people who doesn't think Steph is the greatest shooter of all time, I really don't know what to tell you.
G
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder- Might be my favorite player in the league. No one goes harder every night. Now he's second in the league in assists to go along with his usual scoring, rebounding, and career high field goal percentage.
F
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder- Just so consistent and efficient. He really is the ultimate modern scorer.
F
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs- He has to be considered the best perimeter defender since prime Pippen. When you can consistently bother and challenge Lebron, that means something. His offense just keeps getting better.
F
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors- I feel like there are now more people who think no one thinks Draymond Green is an All-Star than the actual number of people who don't think he's an All-Star. He's an All-Star. Case closed.
Reserves:
G
Chris Paul, LA Clippers- Still going strong and leading the charge for the least likable team in the NBA. I don't know, I can't really figure out why this group of whiners and mental midgets can't seem to get it done when it matters. While everyone is finally starting to wonder if maybe Blake Griffin might actually be a piece of shit no one likes and not a happy-go-lucky offensive force (which he has been this season, just too many injuries), the real question surrounding the Clippers is does everyone secretly just hate Chris?
G
James Harden, Houston Rockets- Oh, look another feel good team! Harden has been great again this season, but his shooting from the field is super inconsistent. The Rockets just suck. Everyone complains and mopes around and doesn't try on defense and blames everyone else. But somehow they'll make the playoffs over and exciting Jazz team and an improved Kings team because life is unfair.
F
DeMarcus Cousins, Sacramento Kings- While it's weird that he's only shooting 44% from the field, he's been a beast this season and lead the Kings to a surprisingly good start. Now, if he could only, you know, try all the time, he'd solidify himself as the best King since Quincy Douby.
F
Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans- While it hasn't been the transcendent season some predicted, he's still putting up big numbers. The Pelicans have been so injury plagued this season, and I think that has hurt his productivity. He's only 22, and this will already be his third All-Star game.
F
LaMarcus Aldrige, San Antonio Spurs- He's taken a backseat to Kawhi, but that's only hurt his per game averages. He's been great on offense as a secondary weapon, and been really solid on defense. He's got great chemistry with everyone's favorite fat NBA player, Boris Diaw, which is a huge thing to have in your favor.
WC
Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks- Dirk is one of my favorite players ever, but if you think this is just a legacy pick, you haven't watched much Mavs basketball this season. While Deron Williams has had a mini-resurgence, Dallas wouldn't be sniffing the playoffs without Dirk. His shot is still just as pretty, and his rebounding rate is back up around where it was when he was MVP.
WC
Klay Thompson, Golden State Warriors- Really tough last spot to fill. It's a virtual toss-up between Klay, Damian Lillard, Gordan Hayward, and DeAndre Jordan. But, in my mind, Klay's defense puts him ahead of Damian and Hayward, and, if you couldn't tell, I hate the Clippers, so I'm going with the NBA's best third option.
Toughest cuts:
Damian Lillard,
Gordon Hayward,
DeAndre Jordan,
J.J. Redick (really!),
C.J. McCollum,
Kobe Bryant
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