How might this year’s NBA All-Star rosters look?

The scene of the NBA’s All-Star weekend returns to Salt Lake City for the first time since 1993 this season with the league’s annual festivities kicking off on 18 February.

The weekend’s showpiece event always generates significant buzz with the voting and drafting process always capturing the eye of fanbases across the league.

Last year, Stephen Curry took home the All-Star Game MVP as Team LeBron outlasted Team Durant 163-160 in Cleveland.

As the 2022-23 NBA season chugs along, focus on this year’s crop of All-Stars continues to rise. Here is how the rosters may look:

West Guard Starters – Luka Dončić (DAL) & Stephen Curry (GSW)

Dončić is in the midst of an MVP-level campaign in Dallas and will slot into one of the starting backcourt positions. Currently averaging 34.2 ppg, 8.9 rpg and 8.7 apg, Dončić is putting together one of the most statistically eye-popping seasons in recent memory and looks poised to earn his fourth consecutive All-NBA 1st Team nod. Curry, meanwhile, has been superb for the up-and-down defending champions with injury the only argument against the reigning Finals MVP’s All-Star candidacy. In 27 starts, he has averaged 29.7 ppg, 6.4 rpg and 6.7 apg but missed an 11-game period due to a partially dislocated left shoulder. Even still, Curry leads all Western Conference backcourt players in fan voting and has enough legacy points to stroll into the starting lineup alongside Dallas’ Slovenian wunderkind.

West Frontcourt Starters – Nikola Jokić (DEN), LeBron James (LAL) & Zion Williamson (NOP)

Jokić will earn one of the starting frontcourt spots as he aims to become the first player since Larry Bird to collect three consecutive MVPs. Putting up 25.0 ppg, 10.8 rpg and 9.7 apg, Jokić has his Nuggets jostling for the Western Conference’s one-seed and finds himself behind only James in fan voting for the position. James, meanwhile, is fighting to keep his Lakers afloat in the crowded West averaging 29.1 ppg, 8.2 rpg and 6.7 apg after celebrating his 38th birthday two weeks ago.  He leads all players in fan voting as he looks to break Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s longstanding scoring record prior to appearing in his record 19th All-Star Game. Adjudicating the final starter out West is not as clearcut with the two leading candidates spending extended time on the sidelines. Williamson has played in 29 games for New Orleans this season – during which the team is 17-12 – and has averaged 26.0 ppg, 7.0 rpg and 4.6 apg on .652 TS%. He is currently out, however, with a hamstring issue and is scheduled to be re-evaluated in approximately two weeks. Davis, on the other hand, has been outstanding in the 25 games he has played for the Lakers averaging 27.4 ppg, 12.1 rpg and 2.1 bpg on .662 TS%. He is currently rehabbing a stress injury in his foot, however, and, whilst he is working towards a return, remains out indefinitely. Team success and availability favours Williamson, perhaps earning him the starting nod.

West Guard Reserves – Ja Morant (MEM) & Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (OKC)

Given the plethora of high-quality guard play in the Western Conference this season, there will be some difficult omissions. Morant is averaging a cool 27.6 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 7.9 apg and Memphis are gunning for the West’s one-seed. One could argue that a starting backcourt spot would not be out of the question, however, given the play of Dončić and Curry, he may have to settle for being one of the first reserves picked. Gilgeous-Alexander has proven a revelation in Oklahoma City and is the current favourite to take out the Most Improved Player award; the 24-year-old is averaging 30.8 ppg, 4.8 rpg and 5.6 apg on .617 TS%. The team success is still not there for Gilgeous-Alexander but that should not matter considering the season he is putting together. Perennial All-Stars Devin Booker and Damian Lillard deserve consideration at these spots but, given the time they have spent on the sidelines, may need to rely on the wildcard slots if they are to make the trip to Utah.

West Frontcourt Reserves – Anthony Davis (LAL), Domantas Sabonis (SAC) & Lauri Markkanen (UTA)

Davis’ foot injury has thrown a major spanner in the works for the Lakers’ season but it does not discount the bigman’s early-season play. He was giving superstar production on both ends of the court for the Lakers and willed them to several huge victories. Sabonis has been terrific for a surging Kings outfit averaging 18.9 ppg, 12.4 rpg and 6.8 apg on .679 TS% for the season. Only Oscar Robertson, Wilt Chamberlain, Kevin Garnett and Nikola Jokić have averaged those marks for an entire season. The Kings are the currently fifth in the Western Conference standings and look poised to end the franchise’s 16-year playoff drought. Markkanen has enjoyed a breakout year in Utah and will hope to put on a show for his home fans if awarded with an All-Star nod. The 25-year-old is averaging 24.5 ppg and 8.5 rpg on .664 TS% as the Jazz hover around .500 following a hot start. Another name in Most Improved talks, Markkanen has undergone a career resurgence with the Jazz and may be primed for a maiden All-Star nod.

West Wildcard Reserves – Devin Booker (PHO) & Damian Lillard (POR)

Another currently out injured, Booker is Phoenix’s main guy and has developed into a scoring savant since being drafted in 2015; in 29 starts this season, Booker is averaging 27.1 ppg, 4.6 rpg and 5.6 apg. Since he went down, the Suns have won just three of 13 and find themselves in the play-in bracket, speaking to the 26-year-old’s importance to the team. Lillard has been Portland’s engine for the best part of a decade and is again enjoying an All-Star calibre campaign with averages of 27.4 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 7.1 apg on .602 TS%. The Trail Blazers have won just five of the 12 games that he has missed as he desperately tries to drag them to another postseason appearance.

West Honourable Mentions – De’Aaron Fox (SAC), Paul George (LAC), Aaron Gordon (DEN) & Anthony Edwards (MIN)

Given the league’s current talent depth, several deserving players will be left off the rosters. Odds are spots opened up by injuries will be up for grabs; a dozen injury replacements have been selected over the past five seasons with a minimum of one per season. Fox is averaging 23.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg and 6.1 apg on a fifth-seed Kings team, George is averaging 23.7 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 5.1 apg on a sixth-seed Clippers team, Gordon is averaging 16.5 ppg and 6.9 rpg on the one-seed Nuggets and is being tasked with guarding the league’s toughest covers on a nightly basis and Edwards is averaging 23.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 4.4 apg on an improving Timberwolves unit.

East Guard Starters – Kyrie Irving (BRK) & Donovan Mitchell (CLE)

Since returning from a midseason suspension, Irving has been on a tear for Brooklyn playing a significant role in 10 of the team’s 12 consecutive wins, during which he averaged 29.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg and 4.8 apg on 54.3-45.5-92.5 shooting splits. On the year, he is averaging 26.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg and 4.7 apg on .605 TS% and lead all East guards on the fan tally. Mitchell is enjoying a career-best year in his first as a Cav, averaging 29.3 ppg and 4.8 apg on .632 TS% as the franchise aims to end a four-year playoff drought. Earlier this month, he became the first player since Kobe Bryant in 2006 to score more than 70 points in a game when he dropped 71 points and 11 assists in an overtime win over the Bulls.

East Frontcourt Starters – Kevin Durant (BRK), Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) & Joel Embiid (PHI)

Deciding which of Durant, Antetokounmpo, Embiid and Tatum are relegated to the reserves is an impossible but necessary task at this juncture of the season. Durant leads all Easterners in the fan vote with Antetokounmpo, Tatum, and Embiid second, third, and fourth respectively. The proportion of fan votes may prove the difference even if Tatum has put together an MVP-calibre campaign for the league’s winningest team. Durant – whose status may be harmed by the recent reports that he will spend the next month on the sideline with an MCL injury – is averaging 29.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 5.3 apg on .673 TS% this season and has dragged the Nets nearly atop the conference after an indifferent start. Hunting the 13th All-Star selection of his career, Durant looks to early favourite to earn captaincy rights out East. Denying Antetokounmpo the start would be a difficult sell; even through Milwaukee’s midseason lethargy, the 28-year-old is averaging 31.0 ppg, 11.9 rpg and 5.3 apg and has the Bucks with the league’s fifth-best record. He has as valid a claim to the ‘world’s best player’ throne as anyone and is set to overtake Kareem Abdul-Jabbar for the most All-Star selections in Milwaukee history next month. Embiid has also missed time for Philadelphia but has been monstrous in the 29 games which he has started averaging 33.6 ppg, 9.9 rpg and 4.4 apg on .641 TS%. Tatum’s availability may be enough to earn him the nod over Embiid but relegating a guy who is on track to becoming the first player in 48 years to average 33+ ppg and 9+ rpg is very tough.

East Guard Reserves – Jaylen Brown (BOS) & Tyrese Haliburton (IND)

Brown may also feel hard done by should a pair of guards beat him out for the starting gigs in the East. The 26-year-old is averaging 27.2 ppg, 7.1 rpg and 3.4 apg for the league’s winningest team. Currently fourth in the position in fan voting behind Irving, Mitchell, and Harden, Brown’s ticket to the All-Star Game may come via the bench unit, however, many – particularly Boston fans – will argue his case as a starter. Haliburton, meanwhile, has proven a revelation for a Pacers squad that has hung around the playoff picture far longer than anyone anticipated. Their turnaround is due in large part to play of their 22-year-old point guard who is averaging 20.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg and 10.2 apg on .613 TS%. The depth of talent among guards out East is seriously impressive but the work Haliburton has put in this season deserves to be recognised; he is on track to become the third-youngest player in NBA history to average 20+ ppg and 10+ apg for a season behind only Chris Paul and Isiah Thomas.

East Frontcourt Reserves – Jayson Tatum (BOS), Julius Randle (NYK) & Jimmy Butler (MIA)

Tatum earns an obvious nod here should he be omitted from the starting frontcourt. The 24-year-old is averaging 30.8 ppg, 8.2 rpg and 4.2 apg on .611 TS% for the league-best Celtics – numbers that will keep him in the MVP conversation for the remainder of the season. The next two spots are not as clearcut, however. Randle has enjoyed a terrific bounce-back year in New York; the Knicks are currently the sixth-seed and he is averaging 24.1 ppg, 10.3 rpg and 3.8 apg. He looks the player he was two seasons ago when he earnt maiden All-Star, All-NBA, and Most Improved nods before being rewarded with a four-year, $117 million extension. Butler, meanwhile, gets the tentative nod here ahead of the likes of Siakam, DeRozan, and Adebayo. The Heat have not had the best of years – they have battled to stay above .500 for much of the season – and Butler has missed time but his on-court production is difficult to argue. The 12-year veteran is averaging 22.1 ppg, 6.4 rpg and 5.5 apg on .618 TS% and plays a significant role in their offence when on the floor. One could argue Adebayo’s availability and All-Defensive chops make him the more deserving Heat candidate or the increased offensive burden that guys like Siakam or DeRozan carry should be taken into consideration, but Butler’s case remains a strong one.

East Wildcard Reserves – Pascal Siakam (TOR) & Trae Young (ATL)

The wildcard slots are not any easier to get a gauge on out East. Siakam has been very good on a very disappointing Raptors team; the Cameroonian forward has averaged 25.8 ppg, 8.3 rpg and 6.5 apg in 31 starts this season – no Raptor has ever averaged those numbers for a season. The team success argument may be used against Siakam, however, Adebayo and DeRozan – two of his closest competitors – also find themselves on teams fighting to stay in the play-in bracket whilst Harden has missed 15 games and Garland has seen a slight drop-off in terms of production and efficiency from last year’s All-Star campaign. Young, on the other hand, has also battled through a disappointing season from a team perspective but has the All-Star numbers next to his name. The 24-year-old is averaging 27.5 ppg and 9.8 apg but has seen a drop-off in efficiency from season’s past. As it stands, it is flip of the coin between Young and several of his peers but the load he is trusted with offensively in Atlanta and the absurd scoring and passing numbers he puts up may be enough to earn him the third All-Star nod of his career.

East Honourable Mentions – James Harden (PHI), Darius Garland (CLE), Jalen Brunson (NYK), DeMar DeRozan (CHI) & Bam Adebayo (MIA)

As mentioned previously, odds are an injury opens up a roster spot for one of these names to be rewarded with. Harden has been strong for a surging 76ers squad and, whilst not the MVP-level star he once was, has averaged 21.8 ppg, 6.5 rpg and 11.0 apg – which would lead the league if he reached the games played threshold – in 25 starts this season. Garland has excelled in a revised role since Cleveland traded for Mitchell and has put up 21.4 ppg and 7.8 apg for the fifth-seed Cavs. Brunson has revelled in the opportunity to lead New York’s offence since making the move from Dallas in the offseason and has averaged 21.9 ppg and 6.4 apg as the Knicks look to stay ahead of the curve and make a run towards the postseason. DeRozan has enjoyed another strong season for an up-and-down Bulls team averaging 26.1 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 4.9 apg in his 14th year as a pro. Adebayo continues proving to be one of the league’s top defensive anchors all whilst averaging 21.4 ppg and 9.9 rpg on the year, albeit for a slightly over .500 Heat team.

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