All-Star 2019: Predictions & Snubs

It's that time of the year... where NBA player's egos begin to show and some generally salty tweets get thrown around. That's right, we're nearly at ALL-STAR WEEK! So while the rest of the NBA starts to wind down and get their minds and bodies right (or hit the club - shout out John Wall, we know you're a grown man), we've been grinding to produce our final All-Star lists, as well as some intriguing questions about deserving and undeserving stars. So without further ado, lets get to it...

1. Luka Doncic - Wonderkid or Wonderifoverrated?

Chad: Luka is definitely an all-star in my book. Not a starter but an all-star for sure. I have him at eight or nine on my Western Conference roster. I’ll leave the rest of this argument to Luka’s second biggest fan. His first being his mom, who I’m hoping gets some screen time during the game. <3

Jake: A very compelling argument from Chad there, I can't fault his reasoning. However, I'll be sliding out of Luka's mum's DMs and in the opposite direction. The Slovenian prodigy is going to have a bit of a tough time this year. While the fan vote had him at 2nd place in the Western Conference with over 4 million votes, the players and media didn't quite show him the same love (8th place and 6th place respectively). I've got to say, I agree... While it's amazing to see a rookie produce these kind of numbers this early on I feel like being an All Star is a rite of passage in the league. I can't possibly sit here and say Luka is one of my All Star starters when players like Damian Lillard are being overlooked every year! Sorry Luka, you'll need to grit your teeth until next year.

Chad: Wow.

2. Karl Anthony Towns - Tame KAT or ex-Wildcat?

Chad: His numbers are legit. 22 and 12 is an all-star caliber stat line any year. But, and there are some big buts with KAT, he’s the supposed leader on a drastically underachieving team. I know I just said that we shouldn’t hold Luka’s bad team against him, and while it may be a bit contradictory, I stick by that. In Towns’ case he’s the theoretical best player on an underachiever and has years of NBA experience whereas Luka is only a couple months into his NBA career. Towns doesn’t have an excuse. He shows very little fight or grit and I just don’t have much respect for that. I’m sure Jimmy Butler can be tough to get along with at times, but from the outside looking in Towns never committed to winning while Butler was with the T-Wolves. Because of all that, for me KAT is an all-star alternate.

Jake: Karl Anthony Towns frustrates me. I'm going to have to agree with Chad here, his numbers are legit and the eye test shows you a long, athletic, multi-faceted center. This guy should be DOMINATING. But for some reason he just doesn't command the room. Myself and Chad are cut from the same cloth, if you don't appear to have some kind of dog in you then you're not making our lists - this guy is in the best league in the world, with some of the best competitors out there. He needs to man the f**k up and start playing like he means business. 

3. Does Derrick Rose make your team? If so, who are you cutting to make room for him?

Chad: I’m not normally big on sentimental recognition or awards. I think your play should speak for itself. But there are a few exceptions. I think it was right for Vince Carter to step out of the all-star starting lineup for Michael Jordan back in 2003 and this year I think that Derrick Rose has played just well enough to jump some other people who may be technically more deserving. Just last night D. Rose hit a game winner to top the Phoenix Suns. Sure it’s the Suns but Rose has proven to be the most important player on the T-Wolves. If it weren’t for him I’m not so sure Minnesota wouldn’t be hovering just above the bottom of the league despite having max contract guys in KAT and Andrew Wiggins. Rose is a winner and I respect that and want to reward his resiliency. The guy has had how many potentially career ending injuries? How many surgeries? How many times has he contemplated retirement? Yet he’s averaging over 19 points per game, dropped 50 in a game, and has his third highest PER in his career and best since 2012. Rose isn’t a no-brainer for me but considering the season he’s having and his past, I’ve gotta select him over Klay, C.J. McCollum, CP3, etc. Picking Rose instead of some of these names puts him in the 23, 24 roster spots. I would be truly happy to see Rose honored in that fashion in front of the basketball world and all his peers. Can you imagine the standing ovation he gets from fans and players alike when he checks into the game for first time? I just wish I could be in Charlotte to witness it in person.

Jake: I'm going to continue jumping on the bandwagon here, I remember watching Derrick Rose playing every single night like his life was on the line. His stats at this point in his career are impressive, so is his developed basketball IQ and effective use of the little athleticism he still has - but even more impressively, this guy still plays like every game is his last... and why shouldn't he? He knows how easily a career can almost be taken from you by continuous, cruel injuries. His body betrayed him, but I will not - Derrick Rose makes my All Star team over Luka Doncic, I'm not sure how many years D Rose has left in the tank and I want to celebrate the youngest ever MVP for as long as I possibly can - Luka has many more years of excellence and he'll get his due diligence. The standing ovation when Rose enters the All Star game is going to make even the most hardened NBA fan's eyes wet. 

4. Dwyane Wade - Flash or fizzle?

Chad: While I have a ton of respect for the career Dwyane Wade has had, he’s no longer “The Flash” and hasn’t been for many years. Derrick Rose is playing at a near all-star level this season. This being the key term here. Wade just simply isn’t at an all-star level anymore and I think including him would keep players off the roster who are much more deserving based off their current play.

Jake: Sorry Chad, we're no longer friends. Dwyane Wade WILL make the All Star team for his 13th and final appearance.

The Flash's career has been defined by unselfish play, electrifying athleticism and defying odds - and while his athleticism has faded and he doesn't carry a team anymore, his unselfish play has been truly incredible to watch this season. He's settled into a mentor/sixth man role suited perfectly for his experience and skill set. We owe it to Wade to let him hit the floor with LeBron one last time - the longtime best friends/ex-teammates/career rivals need the opportunity to close the book on what has been one of the most remarkable pairings ever. If I get to see LeBron and Wade throw THAT alley-oop just one time during the game - I'll truly have some closure on Wade's retirement. Let's get the 3-time champion, 12-time All Star, 8-time All NBA and 2nd best shooting guard of all time into the 2019 All Star game.

5. Blake Griffin - Lob City Graduate or Boring Employee?

Chad: LOL. Considering Blake Griffin as an all-star makes me really want to focus on the actual term, “all-star.” A star among all the stars in the NBA. Can we really say that if Blake Griffin stopped playing basketball tomorrow and the media didn’t report on it that anyone would notice? I know I wouldn’t. So despite Blake averaging a career high in points, I see him a lot like KAT. He’s a stat stuffer who doesn’t win. But unlike Towns, Griffin will benefit from playing in the Eastern Conference and will just barely make the roster.

Jake: I'm not a big fan of Blake, so let me keep this short. He'll make THE All Star team, but not mine - his numbers are great. 26.3PPG/8.1RPG/5.3APG/22.0PER is a sweet line and I'm sure Blake thinks he's very deserving...

But hasn't his ego, pettiness and constant complaining pissed enough people off yet? I was a fan of his athleticism and dunking ability, but after multiple MCL sprains, broken kneecaps, torn knee cartilage issues and a torn quad injury his athleticism has clearly waned. He's an impressive player but the magic is gone.

6. Assuming Kyrie is the starting PG who should back him up between Kemba, Ben Simmons, and Kyle Lowry?

Chad: I’m assuming I can only pick one? If so, we can go ahead and scratch Lowry. I’ll be honest, I didn’t look at any stats, team records, or anything else to make that decision. It’s totally based off the fact that I’ve never felt Lowry was worthy of the praise and accolades he’s received. And speaking as a fan, he’s boring to watch. So that leaves Kemba and Ben Simmons. Both of these guys are all-star worthy in my mind. Kemba has had some electrifying performances this year with a 60 piece, 47, 43, and 41. And he’s averaging career highs in points per game, blocks per game and nearly in rebounds per game. Not to mention this all-star game is in Charlotte. So while I actually prefer Ben Simmons and think he would make for more fun gameplay during the all-star game seeing him alongside the likes of LeBron James and Russell Westbrook, I think I’ve talked myself into choosing Kemba. Kemba will help to electrify the Charlotte crowd and being a native North Carolinian and Charlotte-born person myself, I would love to see this all-star game be a huge success. Who knows? It could be the catalyst that gets more events like this to the Carolinas. May even intrigue Steph enough to make him start thinking about coming home…

Jake: Chad makes some excellent points and I think he's swayed me. I've always been a fan of Kemba's game (shifty eyes back to my Trae Young is a weak Kemba comment). Kemba feels like the correct choice, especially given the sentiment of All Star weekend being in Charlotte. I like Lowry's game and his development as a play maker this year has been very impressive - but All Star weekend is about entertainment, and seeing his name on the team sheet would struggle to excite anyone south of the Canadian border. Ben Simmons has been outstanding as always but his stubborn attitude towards developing an outside shot really puts me off here. Let's hope a snub might encourage him to at least try to shoot. 

I think it would be really special to see Kemba go off for 30/40 points in front of an adoring Michael Jordan and Charlottean crowd. 

7. Four Warriors - Greedy or well deserved?

Chad: I have a ton of respect for the games of Klay and Dray. If I were building a team from scratch and could pick one player off the Warriors I would seriously consider picking Klay for his other worldly three-point shot, one of the smoothest ever, and his lock-down defense on some of the better shooting guards in the game. And I love Draymond’s energy, passion, and competitive spirit. He’s the kind of guy you’d love to play with and hate to play against. He’ll ruffle some feathers but it’s all within the mission of trying to win. That being said, with the caliber of talent and incredible seasons that have emerged in the NBA this year, Steph and KD are the only Warriors that will be making my all-star roster. Steph and KD have been consistently great while Klay and Dray have had some uncharacteristic slumps during the first half of the season. In conversation I’d still describe all four of these guys as all-stars but only two will officially be so. Klay would be my first alternate though if someone on the roster ends up getting injured before the game.

Jake: Chad makes some great points, so naturally I'm going to go against him.

I completely agree that Steph and KD are locks to be All Stars, if not even All Star starters. I love Draymond Green as a competitor and I have an enormous amount of respect for him wearing his heart on his sleeve and never changing who he is as a player, no matter which superstar comes to The Bay. I do however think that Klay Thompson should be an All Star this year, I'm going to ignore his On/Off rating and his decreased efficiency this year - and instead I'm going to throwback to October 29th 2018, where at the United Center he dropped 14 three-pointers to break the NBA record, or four nights ago when he hit 10 consecutive three-pointers at the Staples Center, or his 37 point quarter and 60 point game at Oracle Arena. 

United Center, Staples Center, Oracle Arena. 

Some of the most famous past and present arenas in the NBA. Thompson is built for the spotlight and is all sorts of dangerous when he gets hot from behind the arc - we need this.

8. Our All-Star picks

Chad:

East:

Kyrie Irving

Kemba Walker

Kawhi Leonard

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Joel Embiid

Kemba Walker

Victor Oladipo (This was written pre-injury.)

Ben Simmons

Khris Middleton

Jimmy Butler

Kyle Lowry

Blake Griffin

Dwyane Wade (Seeing as I was stuck in the past and had LeBron on my initial Eastern Conference roster *facepalm*, upon editing I found room for D. Wade. So Jake, can we be friends again?)

West

Steph Curry

James Harden

Paul George

Kevin Durant

Anthony Davis

Russell Westbrook

Damian Lillard

Luka Doncic

Nikola Jokic

Jamaal Murray

Derrick Rose

Donovan Mitchell

Jake:

East

Kyrie Irving

Bradley Beal

Giannis Antetokounmpo 

Kawhi Leonard

Joel Embiid

Dwyane Wade

Kemba Walker

D'Angelo Russell

Victor Oladipo

Nikola Vucevic

Jimmy Butler

Ben Simmons

West

Steph Curry

James Harden

Paul George

Kevin Durant

LeBron James

Derrick Rose

Klay Thompson

Russell Westbrook

Damian Lillard

Anthony Davis

Steven Adams

Nikola Jokic

Who didn't we show enough love to? Who would make your All Star team? 

Comment below!