As the NBA becomes more talented than ever, it is increasingly difficult to pick only 24 players for the All-Star team.
The younger players are so good nowadays that they no longer have to wait a few more years to establish themselves as some of the league’s top players. So, when the opportunity to be an All-Star is there, they will gladly take it.
Last season, there were seven first-time All-Stars, and such a trend will continue—a good sign that the league’s future is in great hands.
With All-Star roster spots up for grabs, read on below as SBOTOP breaks down who deserves to be All-Stars for the first time this year.
Tyrese Haliburton
Tyrese Haliburton is having one heck of a campaign in his first year at Indiana, averaging 20.2 points and 10.2 assists per game this season.
The 22-year-old has been one of the league’s top playmakers, and he’s one of the favourites to win the Most Improved Player of the Year Award, as per the NBA 2023 odds.
Haliburton arrived in Indiana via a trade involving Domantas Sabonis last season. Kings fans, in particular, were not happy at the time because they saw something special in Haliburton, although Sabonis is not a bad return.
The 22-year-old point guard is now the franchise cornerstone for the Pacers. For a team that isn’t expected to win many games this season, Haliburton has led them to three games above .500 at 23-20, good for seventh in the East as of this writing.
Unfortunately for the Pacers, Haliburton is now sidelined for at least two weeks with injuries to his knee and elbow. Indiana will be hard-pressed to make up for his production.
Jalen Brunson
Many questioned if the Knicks overpaid for Jalen Brunson last summer. But so far, he’s proving to be worth every dollar of his four-year $104-M deal.
Brunson is not the flashiest point guard out there, but he has been a steady presence for New York this season. Every year, his numbers have gone up, and this season is no exception, as he’s averaging 21.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 6.4 assists per game.
The Knicks are currently sixth in the East standings with a 24-19 record, and Brunson is a huge reason why. He, in fact, is the first player so far in 2023 to rack up at least 200 points because he has been on fire lately.
It’s been over 30 years that a Knicks point guard made the All-Star team, and Brunson might become the first since Mark Jackson in 1989.
De’Aaron Fox
Sacramento are on pace to finally put an end to their 16-year playoff drought because they’ve been playing good basketball this season. De’Aaron Fox is the key to their 23-18 record thus far, as he has formed a potent partnership with Domantas Sabonis.
Fox has always been a good NBA point guard, but this year he took his game to a whole new level. He’s averaging 23.8 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game on 50-per cent shooting from the field.
Since the Kings traded away Tyrese Haliburton, it’s clear that Fox is the face of the franchise. If the Kings can create more positive NBA 2023 results and hold on to a playoff-worthy record, then Fox should become the first Kings All-Star since DeMarcus Cousins in the 2016-17 season.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Even with the Thunder owning one of the worst records in the league, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander feels like a lock for this season’s All-Star Game.
The Canadian point guard is one of the league’s top scorers right now with 31.0 points per game on 50-per cent shooting from the field.
Gilgeous-Alexander is also one of the most underrated defenders this season. He’s averaging 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks per game, making the most of his length compared to his smaller counterparts.
The only thing you could nitpick about his game is his turnovers because he averages 3.2 of them per game, but that speaks more about his responsibility to create for the Thunder’s offense each and every night.
Lauri Markkanen
Lauri Markkanen has been a surprise package this year since nobody saw his breakout season coming. He is posting career-high numbers across the board, averaging 24.5 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists per game on 52-per cent shooting from the field.
The Finnisher arrived in Utah as part of the Donovan Mitchell trade, which turned out to be a win-win for all parties involved. Markkanen was largely responsible for the Jazz’s hot start, and he isn’t slowing down anytime soon.
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