SACRAMENTO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 20: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander #2 of the Oklahoma City Thunder drives ... [+] to the basket against De'Aaron Fox #5 of the Sacramento Kings in the third quarter at Golden 1 Center on January 20, 2023 in Sacramento, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
Getty ImagesThe 2023 NBA All-Star Game will feature plenty of the usual suspects. Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo were named the captains of their respective conferences, and the other eight starters all have at least one previous All-Star nod under their belts.
However, there could be a number of fresh faces in Salt Lake City on Feb. 19, too.
Last Thursday, the NBA announced the All-Star starters for both conferences. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Dallas Mavericks guard Luka Doncic, New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson and Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokic were selected alongside James in the West, while Brooklyn Nets guard Kyrie Irving, Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell, Nets forward Kevin Durant and Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum were selected alongside Antetokounmpo in the East.
The NBA uses a combination of fan, player and media votes to determine the All-Star starters. Coaches select the seven reserves—two guards, three frontcourt players and two "wild cards" (either guards or frontcourt players)—for each conference.
The reserves will be announced on Thursday's edition of Inside the NBA on TNT. The following five players—all of whom would be first-time All-Stars—deserve to hear their names called Thursday night.
Shai Gilgeous Alexander, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder
When No. 2 overall pick Chet Holmgren suffered a Lisfranc injury in his right foot during the offseason, the Oklahoma City Thunder appeared to be headed for their third straight dismal season. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander had other ideas in mind.
The fifth-year guard is averaging a career-high 30.9 points per game on 51.0 percent shooting to go with 5.7 assists, 4.8 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks. He's getting to the charity stripe 10.2 times per game—he had never averaged more than 7.2 free-throw attempts prior to this season—and is shooting a career-best 90.8 percent from there.
Gilgeous-Alexander puts relentless pressure on defenses with his league-leading 24.1 drives per game. He's averaging 16.5 points while shooting 51.4 percent from the field on such plays, which is in part why the Thunder lead the NBA with 65.2 drives per game.
All-in-one advanced metrics suggest Gilgeous-Alexander should be in contention for an All-NBA spot, not just an All-Star nod. He's third leaguewide in value over replacement player, trailing only Jokic and Doncic, while he's fifth in PER, sixth in box plus/minus and 13th in Dunks and Threes' estimated plus/minus.
The 11th-seeded Thunder are one game behind the Utah Jazz for the final spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament, but they have already matched their win total from last season with 32 games left to play. Gilgeous-Alexander should be a lock to receive his first All-Star nod.
Lauri Markkanen, PF, Utah Jazz
Gilgeous-Alexander isn't the only should-be lock among potential first-time All-Stars. Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen should likewise be a no-brainer selection in the West.
When the Jazz traded away Donovan Mitchell and Rudy Gobert this past offseason, they seemed headed for a ground-up rebuild. That may still be in the cards—veterans such as Mike Conley, Kelly Olynyk and Jordan Clarkson could find themselves on the move prior to the Feb. 9 NBA trade deadline—but Markkanen has done his damnedest to keep them afloat in the meantime.
The 25-year-old, who came to Utah as part of the return package for Mitchell, is averaging a career-high 24.9 points per game on 52.0 percent shooting. He's also chipping in 8.6 rebounds, 1.8 assists and 3.1 three-pointers per game while shooting a career-best 43.2 percent from deep.
Markkanen is the only player in the NBA this season who's averaging at least 20 points per game while shooting above 50 percent overall and 40 percent from three-point range. Although he doesn't rank quite as highly as Gilgeous-Alexander in all-in-one impact metrics, he's 12th leaguewide in EPM, 16th in PER, 17th in VORP and 18th in BPM.
Seeing as 24 players will be named All-Stars, someone who's comfortably within the top 20 of the league in a host of advanced metrics should be one of those selections.
Tyrese Haliburton, PG, Indiana Pacers
Tyrese Haliburton has been sidelined for the past few weeks after suffering an elbow sprain and a knee contusion against the New York Knicks on Jan. 11. In his absence, the Indiana Pacers have gone 1-9, including six double-digit losses.
With Haliburton in the lineup this season, the Pacers are 22-18. They're 2-10 without him.
Haliburton and Philadelphia 76ers guard James Harden—who should also be an All-Star—are the only two players in the league this year averaging at least 20 points and 10 assists per game. While Haliburton isn't quite in the vaunted 50/40/90 club, he isn't far off, as he's shooting 48.0 percent overall, 39.9 percent from three-point range and 88.0 percent from the charity stripe.
Haliburton is ahead of both Mitchell and Irving, the East's two All-Star starters in the backcourt, in PER, box plus/minus, VORP and EPM. His scoring ability, shooting efficiency and preternatural passing vision have already pushed the Pacers past their expected preseason win total and have them only a half-game behind the Chicago Bulls for the final spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament.
Haliburton finished eighth among fan votes and sixth in player votes, so he never had a real shot to be named an All-Star starter. But he was third in media voting—ahead of Irving—which suggests he has a real shot at snagging one of the reserve nods.
De'Aaron Fox, PG, Sacramento Kings
The Sacramento Kings are in the midst of an NBA-record 16-season playoff drought. They've only entered February with a winning record once since the 2005-06 season.
De'Aaron Fox has them on pace to break both of those ignominious streaks.
Fox, who was one of the biggest All-Star snubs two years ago, shouldn't be denied this time around. He's averaging 24.1 points per game on a career-high 50.4 percent shooting to go along with 6.1 assists, 4.3 rebounds, 1.6 three-pointers and 1.0 steals.
More importantly, the Kings sit third in the West with a 28-21 record heading into Tuesday. The "good stats, bad team" stink that lingered over Fox in past years is nowhere to be found this season.
Fox has been particularly lethal in clutch settings, which the NBA defines as any game in which no team leads by more than five points with five or fewer minutes remaining. The 25-year-old currently leads the league with 119 points on 60.0 percent shooting in such situations, ahead of renowned closers such as Doncic, Mitchell and DeMar DeRozan.
Not only should Fox be headed for his first All-Star Game this year, but he should also be the favorite for the NBA's new Clutch Player of the Year award.
Jalen Brunson, PG, New York Knicks
A numbers game might prevent Jalen Brunson from earning his first All-Star nod this season.
Barring injury replacements, the East can have no more than six All-Star guards (two starters, two reserves and two wild cards). Mitchell and Irving are already in, and Harden, Haliburton and Celtics swingman Jaylen Brown should all be locks. That leaves one spot at most for players such as Brunson, DeRozan, Trae Young and Darius Garland, not to mention any frontcourt candidates who could snag the other wild-card spot.
Still, there's no denying the All-Star-caliber impact that Brunson has had on the New York Knicks this year.
After signing a four-year, $104 million contract with the Knicks in free agency this past summer, Brunson has more than lived up to his end of the bargain. He's averaging a career-high 22.5 points on 46.9 percent shooting to go with 6.2 assists, 3.5 rebounds, 1.8 three-pointers and 1.0 steals per game. He has missed only three games thus far this season, but the Knicks are 26-22 with him in the lineup and 1-2 without.
Some all-in-one advanced metrics have Brunson on the fringes of All-Star consideration—he's tied with Haliburton for 17th leaguewide in total win shares and is in a three-way tie with Irving and Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (another likely All-Star) for 20th in VORP. However, he's 28th in box plus/minus, 37th in PER and outside the top 80 in EPM.
With teammate Julius Randle also coming on strong as of late, it's difficult to imagine the seventh-seeded Knicks getting two All-Stars. However, Brunson has a legitimate case.
Honorable mentions
Jaren Jackson Jr., PF/C, Memphis Grizzlies
CJ McCollum, SG, New Orleans Pelicans
Aaron Gordon, PF, Denver Nuggets
Jerami Grant, PF, Portland Trail Blazers
Unless otherwise noted, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball Reference and are current through Monday, Jan. 30. All salary information via Spotrac or RealGM. All odds via FanDuel Sportsbook.
Bryan Toporek, Senior Contributor
https://www.forbes.com/sites/bryantoporek/2023/02/01/five-nba-players-who-deserve-their-first-all-star-game-nod-in-2023/
By: Bryan Toporek, Senior Contributor
Title: Five NBA Players Who Deserve Their First All-Star Game Nod In 2023
Sourced From: www.forbes.com/sites/bryantoporek/2023/02/01/five-nba-players-who-deserve-their-first-all-star-game-nod-in-2023/
Published Date: 02-01-2023
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Bird Rights in NBA?
In the NBA, "Bird rights" refers to a rule which allows certain players to be re-signed by their current team for more money than any other team can offer. This rule is named after Larry Bird (ex-Boston Celtics player), who was the first to profit from it. A team cannot exceed their salary cap to resign a player if that player has been with them for at least three consecutive years. Bird rights allow players to stay with the same team and receive a larger salary than they would have been able to get from any other team.
What is the biggest rivalry in the NBA?
The NBA's greatest rivalry is between the Boston Celtics (the Boston Celtics) and Los Angeles Lakers (the Los Angeles Lakers).
The NBA Finals' most-matched teams have been the Boston Celtics & Los Angeles Lakers, who met 12 times. The Celtics have won nine of those meetings. Their first meeting was in 1959, but they both continued to excel in the following years, especially during the 1960s and 1980s, when they would face each other six times and three, respectively. The new millennium marked 2000, but the two teams still met twice within the same year.
Which basketball player is the best?
This is a stupid question as there are so many exceptional players. Everybody has their opinions. However, some of the top contenders for this title would include Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Larry Bird. Each of these legends made a significant impact on basketball and earned their place within basketball history. Each of these legends have their own styles of play, which have been admired worldwide by millions. This makes it difficult to say definitively who is the greatest player ever. It is clear that the six most outstanding players on any list of greatest players must be included.
But, the majority of people agree that Michael Jordan truly is the greatest basketball player of all-time. He was conceived in Wilmington, North Carolina on February 17th 1963.
Jordan began his professional career as a basketball player with the Chicago Bulls, in 1984. He was soon one of the most prominent and successful players of his era. Six-time NBA champion, six time NBA finals MVP and five-time NBA regular-season MVP. He was also a 10-time NBA scoring leader.
Jordan was also a two time Olympic gold medalist and was inducted into Basketball Hall of Fame 2009. Jordan's remarkable ability to score from any position on the court, make plays and lead the team is what will be remembered. He will forever remain an inspiration to millions worldwide due to his never-ending drive and ambition.
Jordan's legacy will live on forever; he is the undisputed greatest basketball player of all time. His level of greatness is unparalleled by any other player. He will always be remembered as one of the greatest sports figures in history. There isn't much more that can be said about Michael Jordan except that he truly is the greatest of all time. His extraordinary career and achievements will always be remembered. He was, is, and always will be "The GOAT." The one and only Michael Jordan!
Statistics
- "NBA first-round ratings drop 27 percent, 40 percent since 2017–18". (en.wikipedia.org)
- As of 2014, 45 percent of its viewers were black, while 40 percent were white, making it the only top North American sport that does not have a white majority audience.[102]As of 2017Democrats than Republicans.[103]Outside (en.wikipedia.org)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20 percent of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
- Williams would 'likely' accept a deal worth $14-15M/year; Celtics are 'unlikely' to offer such a deal (HoopsHype) (bleacherreport.com)
- The 2013–14 season opened with 92 international players on the opening night rosters, representing 39 countries and over 20% of the league. (en.wikipedia.org)
External Links
sbnation.com
bleacherreport.com
sports.yahoo.com
- Yahoo Mail, Weather, Search & Videos
- NBA Finals Game 1 receives the lowest audience in recorded ratings history
basketball-reference.com
- Thomas Bryant Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
- Dennis Schroder Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Draft Status and more | Basketball-Reference.com
How To
What compensation is offered to NBA players for being injured?
NBA players with guaranteed contracts get their money in full, even if they are unable or injured to play. Some even have made millions playing basketball without ever having to play a single game. Their contract may be terminated or they could lose their bonuses. Non-guaranteed players will not typically receive any pay until their health allows them to return to the NBA. Although the NBA can offer some assistance, such as a lump sum settlement or disability payments, it is not guaranteed that players will receive any pay during an injury absence. Teams and the league can also help those who are in greatest need.
Through the Injury Disability Plan, assistance can also be provided by teams. It all depends on the situation of each individual and his team. In some cases, players may be able to negotiate a buyout with their teams to receive some money during their injury absence. It is important for players to realize that payment can't be guaranteed if an injury occurs. However, the league or the team may be able to provide some assistance. Each case is different, and each should be treated as such. The NBA has established a set of rules that govern injuries and payments to players for absences due to injury. This will help players understand the rules and make informed financial decisions. If you have questions or concerns, it's important to seek professional advice.
