The NBA All-Star Game is less than two years away, but who will make the cut? We have listed five players that could enhance this year’s game with their individual skill sets.
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The NBA will send 24 of its top players to the 2022 NBA All-Star Game in Cleveland, Ohio on Sunday night.
Without even glancing at the roster, most basketball fans should recognize some of the game’s most important players. Some of the superstars on the floor at Rocket Mortgage FieldHouse include LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Giannis Antetokounmpo. But what about the lesser-known celebrities?
We know what we’re going to get from the King and the Greek Freak at this point. Nonetheless, there are seven first-time All-Stars who can help revive a game that has lost some of its sparkle in recent years.
If you’re on the fence about whether or not to watch the All-Star Game, consider tuning in for these five first-timers, who should keep this high-scoring showcase interesting and entertaining.
5. Toronto Raptors’ Fred VanVleet
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VanVleet, 27, came to the NBA as an undrafted rookie out of Wichita State. He was an NBA champion by his third season. He’s now an All-Star for Team LeBron in his sixth season.
With each passing year, VanVleet improves even more. On a league-high 38.4 minutes per game, the 6-foot-1 guard is averaging 21.6 points and shooting 40.1 percent from three. For a Raptors squad that has shocked many this season, he’s also handing up a career-high 7.0 assists.
FVV is the first undrafted player to appear in an All-Star Game since Ben Wallace in 2006. No player, in my opinion, will come into the game with a bigger chip on his shoulder than VanVleet, providing fans a reason to watch how he makes the most of his playing time.
4. San Antonio Spurs’ Dejounte Murray
Murray entered the league as an unheralded 29th overall selection in 2016, missing the whole third season due to an ACL tear. However, the 25-year-old has steadily climbed to fame until exploding in 2021-22.
Murray is beginning to fit the bill for a Spurs club looking for a new franchise symbol. With 19.9 points, 9.3 assists, and 8.3 rebounds per game entering Thursday, the 6-foot-4 point guard is dangerously close to a triple-double. Murray is also a defensive danger, leading the NBA with 2.0 steals per game.
On the defensive end, San Antonio’s newest star is a very perceptive player with great passing skills and a propensity for playmaking. Murray will be a delight to see no matter where or how Team Durant uses him, since he has 11 triple-doubles, second only to reigning MVP Nikola Jokic.
3. Cleveland Cavaliers’ Darius Garland
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The Cavaliers have been waiting for an All-Star who isn’t LeBron James for a long time. So it’s only natural that the hosts now have two in Jarrett Allen and Garland, Vanderbilt’s immensely entertaining guard.
Garland, unlike VanVleet and Murray, was a high lottery selection in 2019, coming in fifth overall. Each season, the 22-year-development old’s has been noticeable, culminating in a career-high 20.3 points and 8.0 assists through 47 games. The Cavs are on the verge of making the playoffs for the first time since James’ last season in 2018.
Only six players who average 15 minutes or more per game have a greater assist rate than Garland (36.5%), and they’re all All-Stars. Don’t be shocked if the Team LeBron guard sets up many of his teammates — including the King himself — for some highlight-reel moves in front of his home audience.
2. Charlotte Hornets’ LaMelo Ball
Ball, the reigning Rookie of the Year, was born to play in the All-Star Game. The 20-year-old is capable of putting on a display as the game’s youngest player.
LaMelo is having an even stronger second season after a good rookie year. On the league’s highest-scoring squad, the Hornets’ star is averaging 20.2 points, 7.4 assists, and 7.0 rebounds per game. Plus, with Charlotte’s speed leading the NBA, he’s acclimated to playing the All-Star Game’s fastbreak-heavy style.
Since scoring 92 points and pulling up from half-court in high school, the 6-foot-7 floor general has become a national superstar. Since then, his self-assurance has only increased as each game appears to contain at least one jaw-dropping pass or incredible shot. Don’t look away from Ball while he’s on the floor for Team Durant.
1. Memphis Grizzlies’ Ja Morant
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Only Morant and Andrew Wiggins are first-time All-Stars among the 10 starters on Sunday. But it won’t be Ja’s last visit, particularly when he proves to basketball fans all around the world that he belongs here.
The 22-year-old is not only putting up monster statistics for the Grizzlies, but he’s also playing at an MVP level. Ja is averaging 26.8 points, 6.9 assists, and 5.8 rebounds in 46 games. But it’s his athleticism that stands out the most, as the 6-foot-3 guard can attack the rim and convert as many close-range field goals as All-Star big men like Allen, Jokic, and Rudy Gobert.
By his third season, Morant had established himself as a superstar. He’ll now have the opportunity to demonstrate that he belongs among the elite. Ja is going to make Sunday’s All-Star Game one to remember, whether it’s with high-flying dunks or spectacular passes to his Team Durant colleagues.
Basketball Reference and NBA.com provided all statistics, which are current as of February 17, 2021.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Whos performing at NBA All-Star Game?
A: LeBron James will be performing at the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.
What are the teams for the All-Star Game 2022?
A: The teams for the 2022 All-Star Game are as follows. Team North America will be made up of players from Canada, United States and Mexico; Team Europe will be composed of European Union members plus Russia and Turkey with a final team member being voted in by fans (this player is to represent Australia); while there is no real representation for Asia or Africa yet.
How many NBA all stars are there?
A: There are currently 44 NBA all stars.
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