NBA All-Star Game: LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant… and Tyrese Haliburton – who deserves to play in the Utah showpiece?

The All-Star game, and weekend in general, has been somewhat lacklustre and forgettable in recent years – but it can spark debate among NBA fans all around the world. With a reduced roster for the All-Star game, consisting of only 12 players compared to 15 in a NBA game, in-form players and fan favourites are frequently left out. These snubs are often a hot topic when the All-Star weekend comes around.

The starters are selected via votes which comes from the fans, players and the media. The bulk of the power goes to the fans, who have 50 per cent of the say – with players and the media panel having 25 per cent each. This allows everyone to have their say with the majority of votes coming from the fans. Therefore, those who love the game get to see their favourite players earn a jersey when All-Star weekend rolls around. 

So that’s the starting five of each side sorted out; But what about the reserves and the coaches?

Firstly, the coaches. These two will be chosen by their team’s record. The coach of the team with the most wins in the West will be the Western Conference All-Star coach and same for the East.

Now for the reserves. With the bench being a bare seven, compared to the normal 10, each bench spot is reserved for specific positions. The bench must be made up of two guards, three players from the front court and two wildcards. These wildcard players can be anyone and are essentially just extra players that just missed out on the positions on the bench.

But how are these players chosen? Are they also voted in by fans? 

Quite simply the coach for each conference will select their bench, while ticking the criteria of the positions that are needed to make up the bench plus the two wildcards. 

Now, time for my picks for this year’s sides! To clarify, I have gone for players that have been exceptional this season and who have made an impact on their teams, not just stats. As well as some biased picks to allow players I like and want to see play!

WESTERN CONFERENCE

Starters

Guard – Luka Doncic (Dallas Mavericks)

Guard – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Oklahoma City Thunder)

Front Court – LeBron James (Los Angeles Lakers)

Front Court – Domantas Sabonis (Sacramento Kings)

Front Court – Nikola Jokic (Denver Nuggets)

Reserves

Guard – Ja Morant (Memphis Grizzlies)

Guard – Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors)

Front Court – Andrew Wiggins (Golden State Warriors)

Front Court – Lauri Markkanen (Utah Jazz)

Front Court – Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Lakers)

Wildcard – D’Aaron Fox (SacraMento Kings)

Wildcard – Jordan Poole (Golden State Warriors)

Reasoning behind West Conference starters

Now it is somewhat easy to pick the starting five for the West. The man that has just become the second highest scorer of all-time and is on track to beat Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record, also known as LeBron James, check.

The back-to-back, reigning MVP and the man leading this year’s race for a hat-trick of gongs, Nikola Jokic, check.

Then we have Luka Doncic who is literally doing whatever he wants every game, putting up 50 points here, a 60-point triple double there and doing unbelievable things with the ball; he must be in the starting five. 

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is also deserving of a starting role in this year’s All-Star game. He has been the second-best guard in the West this season, behind Doncic, and has just been exceptional at basketball this season. His vast improvement in both scoring and taking control of the game, on top of his shot development and his withstanding playmaking abilities; he’s my pick for this year’s most improved player and needs a spot in the starting five. 

Finally, we have Domantas Sabonis. This spot could have easily been given to all three forwards on the bench, but like I said my picks will be biased. He has been healthier than Anthony Davis, is a better finisher than Lauri Markkanen and I just like him more than Andrew Wiggins. Also, Sabonis brings that old school feel to him when he plays down low and sets them screens as well as having a nice-looking jump shot.

Reasoning behind Western Conference bench

For the bench, Ja Morant has been a human highlight reel this season and is an entertaining player to watch so has to go to the All-Star game.

Stephen Curry is Stephen Curry and always puts on a show during the All-Star game. His season has also been solid throughout continuing to do his thing.

All three of the bench front court players, like mentioned, could easily start this year. However, Anthony Davis is made of glass and gets injured too much but when healthy is tough to stop.

Markkanen has improved so much and is finally getting the recognition he deserves since signing with the Utah Jazz, his versatility on offence is reminiscent of a young Kevin Durant.

Finally, Wiggins has pushed on from last year’s Finals performance adding on to his three-point game and excelling when attacking the rim. He and Jokic will make an interesting duo come the night of the All-Star game.

And then the wildcards. De’Aaron Fox has been relentless this season showing why he had so much hype when he was in his college days. Leading the Sacramento Kings to one of their best seasons in over 10 years, he has to go All-Star weekend.

Then we have Jordan Poole. An exceptionally crafty player who always has a new trick up his sleeve on a nightly basis, is as entertaining as they come. With his slick handles, which outside of Kyrie Irving and Steph Curry, being the best in the league, the last spot is reserved for this man.

EASTERN CONFERENCE

Eastern Conference

Starters

Guard – Donovan Mitchell (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Guard – Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana Pacers)

Front Court – Kevin Durant (Brooklyn Nets)

Front Court – Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics)

Front Court – Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks)

Reserves

Guard – James Harden (Philadelphia 76ers) 

Guard – Kyrie Irving (Brooklyn Nets)

Front Court – Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers)

Front Court – Julius Randle (New York Knicks)

Front Court – Jimmy Butler (Miami Heat)

Wildcard – DeMar DeRozan (Chicago Bulls)

Wildcard – Jaylen Brown (Boston Celtics)

Reasoning behind Eastern Conference starters

Despite having a so-called down year, Giannis Antetokounmpo is averaging 31 points and 12 rebounds a night. You can’t argue with them stats.

Donovan Mitchell has been the standout player this season for one of the standout teams this season, the Cleveland Cavaliers. His 70-point game by itself is impressive but then you look into his stats this season and notice he’s been putting up absurd numbers all year round, and therefore has to start.

Kevin Durant, the best scorer of all time, has been killing it this season and has put the Brooklyn Nets on his back when Kyrie Irving wasn’t playing. Durant’s ability to score whenever and however he wants is ridiculous and at 34 years of age, he shows no signs of slowing down. His legendary status in the game as well as his sharpened leadership skills is why Durant deserves a starting spot.

Jayson Tatum fell at the last hurdle last year in the Finals and seems to have taken that personally. Averaging 31 points a game as well as eight assists, Tatum is a force to be reckoned with and seems hell bent on winning that championship this season after being fingertips away last season.

Finally, Tyrese Haliburton. He is on track to average 20 points and 10 assists. Like Gilgeous-Alexander over in the West, he has vastly improved this season and is an elite play maker.

Reasoning behind Eastern Conference bench

On to the bench, and former Brooklyn team-mates Irving and James Harden are my picks for the guards. Despite being separated they have both continued their success.

With Irving being his usual self, when he’s actually playing, with the flashy dribble moves and passes and the unbelievable finishes. If Irving wasn’t involved in the numerous controversies and self-enforced absences from the game, there’s no doubt that he would be a starter this year.

Harden, who has built on his playmaking and passing abilities that really flourished when he was in Brooklyn, has been scoring and dominating just like he has been doing for the last decade. 

Joel Embiid also has a case for being a starter this year, averaging just under 34 points a game and pushing Jokic to be better, bringing forth the best big man in the league debate. His dominance has been clear this year as well as his link up with Harden, the duo will cause ruckus at the All-Star game.

Jimmy Butler and Julius Randle are two players that are hot and cold throughout the season, but recently they’ve both been on top form; therefore, they deserve a spot in the All-Star game. With both players having that ‘dog’ mentality, they are entertaining to watch and to see them compete.  

Now the two wildcards for the East. DeMar DeRozan has been Chicago’s main man since he joined, and nothing has changed this season. His smooth mid-range and slick handles makes him my wildcard and one of my favourite players to watch. Jaylen Brown also gets in as with Tatum and the role players added to the Celtics this year, they look unstoppable, and Brown is a huge part in this.

So, there’s my pick for this year’s 2023 NBA All-Star teams. What do you think of these selections?

By Jamie O’Sullivan

Follow @JamieOS14