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Mussatto: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserves All-Star start. Who else makes the ballot?
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- Mussatto: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander deserves All-Star start. Who else makes the ballot?
The NBA All-Star Game starters will be revealed Thursday night on TNT, and there's a good chance Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander will be among the 10 honorees .
In the last updated fan ballot, Gilgeous-Alexander had the third-most votes among Western Conference guards behind Luka Doncic and Stephen Curry . Fans account for 50% of the All-Star starters vote, while media and players make up 25% each.
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There are two starting guard spots to be had, and assuming Gilgeous-Alexander is a top-two West guard in the eyes of his colleagues and the media, it's likely SGA will get the starting nod over Curry.
The All-Star reserves, seven in the West and seven in the East — yes, we're going back to the old East vs. West format — will be selected by the league's head coaches. The reserves will be announced next Thursday on TNT. Coaches select two reserve guards, three frountcourt players and two wild cards, so that's what I'll do.
The All-Star Game will tip off Feb. 18 in Indianapolis.
I don't have a ballot this season, but here's how I'd pick the two 12-man teams.
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More: OKC Thunder's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander selected as starter for NBA All-Star Game
Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) celebrates after Jalen Williams made the go-ahead basket in the final seconds of OKC's 111-109 win against the Trail Blazers on Tuesday night at Paycom Center.
Starting West guards: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander , Luka Doncic
Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder:42 games, 31.1 points, 6.4 assists, 5.6 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 55% FG
Doncic, Mavericks :36 games, 33.6 points, 9.3 assists, 8.5 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 48% FG, 37% 3FG
These are easy picks. Both Gilgeous-Alexander and Doncic are putting up gaudy numbers on great (Thunder) and good (Mavericks) teams.
Doncic, a few months younger than SGA, will be headed to his fifth All-Star game. It will be SGA's second All-Star nod.
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Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant (35) shoots the game-winning basket against Chicago Bulls forward Patrick Williams (44) during the fourth quarter at Footprint Center in Phoenix on Jan. 22, 2024.
Starting West frontcourt: Kawhi Leonard , Kevin Durant , Nikola Jokic
Leonard, Clippers :38 games, 23.7 points, 6.2 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1.7 steals, 52% FG, 44% 3FG
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Durant, Suns :36 games, 29.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists, 1.2 blocks, 53% FG, 46% 3FG
Jokic, Nuggets :44 games, 26.2 points, 12.0 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 1.1 steals, 59% FG, 36% 3FG
Durant and Jokic are locks for me.
I had a tough time choosing between Domantas Sabonis , a pair of Lakers — LeBron James and Anthony Davis — and Kawhi Leonard for the final frontcourt spot.
Ultimately I went with Leonard. Did you know he's averaging a career high 34.7 minutes per game? The Clippers are legitimate contenders if Leonard stays on the court. A big if.
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Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, center, works toward the basket after getting past Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Saturday, Jan. 20, 2024, in Minneapolis. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)
West guard reserves: Anthony Edwards , Devin Booker
Edwards, Timberwolves :40 games, 25.5 points, 5.4 rebounds, 5.2 assists, 1.2 steals, 46% FG, 38% 3FG
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Booker, Suns:34 games, 26.7 points, 7.6 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 49% FG, 37% 3FG
I had to get at least one Timberwolf on here, and frankly, I don't care to see Rudy Gobert play in an All-Star game. Edwards' game is just a tad more electrifying.
Booker is averaging a career high in assists while still maintaining his status as an elite scorer.
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West frontcourt reserves: Domantas Sabonis, LeBron James, Anthony Davis
Sabonis, Kings:42 games, 20.0 points, 12.8 rebounds, 7.9 assists, 61% FG, 40% 3FG
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James, Lakers:40 games, 24.8 points, 7.4 assists, 7.2 rebounds, 1.3 steals, 52% FG, 39% 3FG
Davis, Lakers:43 games, 25.0 points, 12.2 rebounds, 3.7 assists, 2.4 blocks, 56% FG
Wait, two Lakers and no Pelicans? More Lakers than Thunders, Wolves, Nuggets and Clippers?
I know, I know. But Davis is having a dominant two-way season and LeBron is LeBron. Not only is James deserving of his 20th All-Star nod, but do you really want to watch an All-Star Game without LeBron in it?
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Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams (8) defends Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James (23) during an NBA basketball game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Los Angeles Lakers at Paycom Center in Oklahoma City, Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023. the Thunder lost 129-120.
West wildcards: Stephen Curry, De'Aaron Fox
Curry, Warriors :37 games, 26.7 points, 4.9 assists, 4.2 rebounds, 45% FG, 40% 3FG
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Fox, Kings:36 games, 27.4 points, 5.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 47% FG, 39% 3FG
James and the Lakers have been slightly better than Curry and the Warriors, but the same logic applies. The Warriors dynasty might finally be crumbling, but Curry is still an all-timer near the peak of his powers.
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Starting East guards: Tyrese Haliburton , Donovan Mitchell
Haliburton, Pacers :34 games, 23.6 points, 12.6 assists, 4.1 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 50% FG, 40% 3FG
Mitchell, Cavaliers :32 games, 27.8 points, 6.1 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 2.0 steals, 46% FG, 35% 3FG
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Haliburton has 50/40/86 shooting splits while leading the NBA in assists. He's an easy choice here.
I gave Mitchell the second nod here. The Cavs are quietly racking up wins amid all kinds of injuries. If you'd rather put Jalen Brunson or Tyrese Maxey in Mitchell's place, you'd get no argument from me.
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Starting East frontcourt: Jayson Tatum , Giannis Antetokounmpo , Joel Embiid
Tatum, Celtics :41 games, 27.0 points, 8.4 rebounds, 4.4 assists, 1.0 steal, 47% FG, 36% 3FG
Antetokounmpo, Bucks :41 games, 31.2 points, 11.5 rebounds, 6.1 assists, 1.4 steals, 60% FG
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Embiid, 76ers :32 games, 36.1 points, 11.6 rebounds, 5.9 assists, 1.9 blocks, 54% FG, 36% 3FG
Lock, lock and lock.
Tatum is the best player on the best team, Antetokounmpo is obliterating everybody and Embiid is the MVP frontrunner.
Next.
Mussatto's Minutes: Why the OKC Thunder is good bet to earn top seed in Western Conference
East guard reserves: Jalen Brunson, Tyrese Maxey
Brunson, Knicks :42 games, 26.6 points, 6.5 assists, 3.9 rebounds, 1.0 steal, 48% FG, 42% 3FG
Maxey, 76ers:41 games, 25.8 points, 6.7 assists, 3.7 rebounds, 1.0 steal, 45% FG, 38% 3FG
Both guards have shown they can man their own backcourt, and do so at an elite level.
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Brunson will represent the Knicks as Julius Randle just missed my 12-man ballot.
East frontcourt reserves: Bam Adebayo , Jaylen Brown , Paolo Banchero
Adebayo, Heat:33 games, 21.5 points, 10.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.1 steals, 50% FG
Brown, Celtics:41 games, 23.1 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, 1.1 steals, 49% FG, 36% 3FG
Banchero, Magic:44 games, 22.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 4.8 assists, 1.0 steal, 45% FG, 35% 3FG
I went Adebayo over Jimmy Butler for the Heat, Brown over Kristaps Porzingis as the second Celtic and Banchero for the vibes.
Really, though, the Magic is in the East playoff race due to Banchero's Year 2 leap. He's been awesome, and Orlando is a fun up-and-coming squad.
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East wildcards: Trae Young , Damian Lillard
Atlanta Hawks guard Trae Young (11) drives as Oklahoma City Thunder guard Aaron Wiggins (21) defends during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 3, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)y
Young, Hawks :39 games, 26.9 points, 10.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 1.4 steals, 42% FG, 36% 3FG
Lillard, Bucks:40 games, 25.3 points, 6.9 assists, 4.4 rebounds, 1.1 steals, 43% FG, 35% 3FG
Two players tailormade for an All-Star Game, both of whom have deserving cases.
Milwaukee is the weirdest contending team in the league, and while Lillard has been good, he and Antetokounmpo are still figuring each other out.
As for Young, his numbers are absurd. Even if the Hawks do stink. Which, you know, they do.
NBA All-Star announcement
WHAT TO KNOW:The 10 starters for next month's NBA All-Star Game will be announced at 6 p.m. Thursday on TNT.
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: NBA All-Star roster picks 2024: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander gets start
