Yesterday, the NBA announced the starters for the 2018 All-Star Game and named leading vote-getters LeBron James & Stephen Curry as the team captains. With 10 all-star spots in the books, that leaves 14 spots left, 7 for each conference. Today, I'm going to give my thoughts on who I think should be the reserves. I've already done the Eastern Conference, so here are 7 players I think should make the all-star game from the Western Conference.
Russell Westbrook
Let's start with the obvious one. And when I say obvious, I mean blatantly obvious. The reigning MVP, Russell Westbrook has continued to put up fantastic numbers for the Oklahoma City Thunder, who currently sit at a 25-20 record on the year. Even with the additions of Paul George and Carmelo Anthony, Westbrook is still averaging a near triple-double on the year and has consistently been one of the best players in the league. For the season, Westbrook is averaging 24.8 points, 9.7 rebounds, a league-high 9.9 assists, and 2 steals per game while shooting 44% from the field and 31% from three-point range. Westbrook is easily the biggest snub for a starting spot this year, so there should be no debate about him earning his seventh all-star selection this season as a reserve.
Damian Lillard
The Portland Trail Blazers have been having a big up and down season all year long, but one of the consistent parts of their team is how good Damian Lillard has been. Already a two-time all-star, Lillard has continued to put up the great numbers he's been known for this season, as he currently sits in the top 10 in scoring this year. For the season, Lillard is averaging 25 points, 4.8 rebounds, 6.5 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 43% from the field, 35% from three-point range, and 92% from the free throw line. Lillard hasn't been to an all-star game since 2015, and with stats like this, he's long overdue for another appearance.
Karl-Anthony Towns
When talking about the best young players in the league right now, few would argue that Karl-Anthony Towns isn't in the top 5 right now, top 10 at least. At only 22, Towns has become one of the best big men in basketball today and looks primed to become one of the best players in all of the league. That being said, his exclusion from last year's all-star game is all the more eye-raising, especially with him averaging a double-double and being among the top 15 scorers and the top 10 in rebounds. But this is a new season, and there should be no denying his spot in the all-star game this year. For the season, Towns is averaging 20.1 points, 12.1 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game while shooting 54% from the field and a career-best 41% from three-point range. Its inevitable Towns makes his first all-star appearance someday, and I think that day should be February 18th, 2018.
Blake Griffin
The loss of Chris Paul has certainly hit the Los Angeles Clippers hard, but they've managed to stay in playoff contention (currently sitting at a 23-21 record) thanks to stellar play from the likes of Lou Williams, Austin Rivers, and even a huge surprise in Tyrone Wallace. However, the man who deserves an all-star spot out of anyone on the Clippers is Blake Griffin, who has moved into the role of team leader in a big way. For the season, Griffin is averaging 22.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game while shooting 43% from the field and 33% from three-point range. Griffin has missed the last two all-star games due to injury, so hopefully, he stays healthy between now and February to earn sixth all-star selection this year.
Chris Paul
As I said early, the Clippers felt the loss of Chris Paul hard this season. That's because simply put, Chris Paul is really, really good at basketball. Following his departure from Los Angeles to the Houston Rockets, CP3 had a bit of a shaky start to the season following an injury that caused him to miss 14 games, Paul is back to normal and putting up the same kind of numbers we've come to expect from him. For the season, Paul is averaging 18.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, 9.1 assists, and 1.8 steals per game while shooting 46% from the field, 38% from three-point range, and 91% from the free throw line. Paul missed his first all-star game in 9 years last season, but he definitely deserves his 10th selection this season.
Devin Booker
The Phoenix Suns are really bad, I get that. They're 17-29 on the season right now, Josh Jackson has been super underwhelming so far, and the fallout from the Eric Bledsoe trade has seen Greg Monroe do just about nothing so far. However, the one bright spot the Phoenix Suns have right now (aside from TJ Warren's lowkey breakout year) is that Devin Booker is one of the best young players in the league right, and they have him. Booker really made his way onto people's radars at the end of last season when he dropped 70 points on the Celtics last season, and he's been keeping people's highs on him all season long. For the season, Booker is averaging career-highs across the board with 25.3 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.6 assists, 0.9 steals, and 0.3 blocks per game while also shooting career-bests 44% from the field, 39% from three-point range, and 88% from the free throw line. Don't be surprised if Booker makes his first all-star appearance at just 21 years old this year.
LaMarcus Aldridge
And lastly, we have LaMarcus Aldridge, a 12-year veteran who has been flying under the radar this season as one of the better big men not just in the Western Conference, but in the entire league. With Kawhi Leonard missing the majority of the season and now being on the inactive list for an "indefinite period" it's been largely up to Aldridge to be the one to carry the San Antonio Spurs to the playoffs this year. And so far, he's done a pretty damn good job, leading the Spurs to a 30-17 record on the year (the fifth best record in the entire league) and is putting up the kind of numbers he was putting up with the Portland Trail Blazers before coming to San Antonio. For the season, Aldridge is averaging 22.6 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 49% from the field and 34% from three-point range. He hasn't been to the all-star game since his first season in San Antonio in 2016, but I think he's more than deserving of his sixth selection this year.
Thanks for reading!
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