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. Starting with the Eastern Conference, here are 7 players I think should make the all-star game.
Andre Drummond
His team might be having the strongest season so far (the Detroit Pistons are 22-21 on the year), but Andre Drummond has been having a fantastic season. Drummond has been putting up some of the best numbers of his career, is having his best season since his all-star selection in 2016, and has shown a huge improvement in his free throw shooting. For the season so far, Drummond averages 14.5 points, a league & career-high 15 rebounds, a career-high 3.8 assists per game, a career-high 1.6 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game while shooting 54% from the field and a career-best 63% from the free throw line, a 23% increase from last season. Drummond made his first and only all-star appearance back in 2016, and it would be perfectly fitting for Drummond to head to Los Angeles this February.
Victor Oladipo
The 2017-18 season has been a huge break out year for Victor Oladipo. Following the first four years of his career with both the Orlando Magic and the Oklahoma City Thunder, Oladipo found himself as part of the trade that sent Paul George to the Thunder, sending Oladipo to the Indiana Pacers in the process. Many people (including me) initially wrote the Pacers off this season, but they've been able to hold their own behind Oladipo, who has been putting up career bests across the stat sheet. For the season, Oladipo is averaging 24.3 points, 5.2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and .9 blocks per game while shooting 49% from the field and 42% from three-point range. Oladipo's first all-star selection would be a great way to solidify his breakout year.
Kristaps Porzingis
Following the trade that sent Carmelo Anthony to the Oklahoma City Thunder, the New York Knicks made it clear that the future of their team is Kristaps Porzingis. The team has struggled without their best player (20-25 on the season), Porzingis is another player who's been having a breakout year, putting up fantastic stats all season long. For the season, Porzingis is averaging a career-high 23.6 points, 6.9 rebounds, and a league & career-high 2.4 blocks per game while shooting 43% from the field and 38% from three-point range. Hard to believe he got booed on draft night. What won't be hard to believe, however, is Porzingis making the all-star team.
John Wall
Following his fantastic season last year, John Wall has been a bit underwhelming this season. However, that doesn't mean Wall isn't still one of the best point guards in the Eastern Conference and in the entire league. For the season, Wall is averaging 19.6 points, 9.3 assists, 1.4 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game while shooting 42% from the field and a career-best 36% from three-point range. Wall is already a four-time all-star, and this season should earn him his fifth all-star appearance.
Bradley Beal
Along with John Wall, another member of the Washington Wizards who has been having an all-star worthy season is Bradley Beal. Beal could be considered a snub for last season's all-star game, with his 23.1 points per game apparently not being enough to head to New Orleans for the all-star game. This season, however, I see no reason that Beal shouldn't make his first all-star appearance this season. For the season, Beal is averaging a career-high 23.7 points, a career-high 4.3 rebounds, a career-high 3.8 assists, and 1.1 steals per game while shooting 46% from the field and 36% from three-point range. If he didn't make the cut last year, he should definitely make the cut this year.
Ben Simmons
This one might be a long shot considering he's a rookie and rookies rarely make the all-star game, but I really think Ben Simmons deserves a spot on the all-star roster. After missing his entire rookie season last year with a foot injury, Simmons made his debut this season and has been one of the front-runners for the Rookie of the Year award, along with being a candidate for the all-star game by guys in college on the internet from suburban Ohio...so me. For the season, Simmons is averaging 16.8 points, 8 rebounds, 7.3 assists, 1.9 steals, and a block per game while shooting 51% from the field. Rookies making the all-star game is rare nowadays, but that shouldn't stop Simmons from making his first all-star appearance in his first season.
Kemba Walker
With the trade rumors that have been surrounding him recently, we shouldn't let that distract us from the great play of Kemba Walker this season. The Charlotte Hornets' season has been pretty rocky so far (18-25 on the year so far) but Walker hasn't slowed down one bit and is still having a great season so far. For the season, Walker is averaging 21.7 points, 5.8 assists, and 1.2 steals per game while shooting 42% from the field, 35% from three-point range, and 85% from the free throw line. Whether or not Walker ends up on a new team before the trade deadline, I think he is more than deserving of his second all-star selection.
Thanks for reading!
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