The 2016 NBA All-Star game which will take place in Toronto on February 14 will gets the name of the starters on Thursday night. Who will they be? We still don’t know, but with voting counts released from time to time, it’s not hard to guess. Who should it be? We have our own opinion, which obviously includes LeBron James and Stephen Curry, but also Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green, Paul George and Jimmy Butler among the starters, and we haven’t forgotten about the reserves.
East Team
Kyle Lowry, Toronto Raptors, Guard: Lowry made the All-Star game for the first time this season. He’s having the best year of his career, averaging 21 points per game and shooting 38.1% from beyond the arc.
Jimmy Butler, Chicago Bulls, Guard: Like Lowry, Butler has one AS appearance, and is still making strides. He’s the best player on the Bulls this season, averaging 22.4 points per game while leading the NBA in minutes, playing 38.2 a night.
LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers, Forward: Just a regular season for James, who has made the All-Star in every season except his rookie year. He’s averaging 25.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6 assists per game while back to shooting over 50% from the field again.
Paul Millsap, Atlanta Hawks, Forward: A two-time All-Star (both with the Hawks), Millsap has taken his game an extra step this season with a little bit more offense to carry, averaging 18.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and a career high 3.5 assists per game.
Paul George, Indiana Pacers, Forward: What a comeback season for George, who is a two-time All-Star. He’s averaging 23.7 points, 7.4 rebounds and 4 assists with a bigger role than before, also squaring up against bigger players than before.
Bench: Chris Bosh (Miami Heat), Kemba Walker (Charlotte Hornets), Reggie Jackson (Detroit Pistons), Isaiah Thomas (Boston Celtics), Pau Gasol (Chicago Bulls), Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons), Al Horford (Atlanta Hawks).
West Team
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors, Guard: If last season there was some argument about the MVP, this year it’s a landslide so far in favor of Curry. He’s leading the NBA in pretty much every scoring category, scoring 30 a night while shooting 51% from the field and 45.1% from beyond the arc, also adding 6.4 assists per game.
Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder, Guard: A four-time All-Star, Westbrook is averaging 24.2 points per game this season, not having to carry the team on his own anymore. He is trying to change, dishing out 9.7 assists per game and so far leading the NBA with 2.4 steals a night.
Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs, Forward: This should be Leonard’s All-Star debut. He’s averaging 20.1 points, 7 rebounds and 2 steals per game. He’s only 24, but he already might be the best defensive player in the league.
Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City Thunder, Forward: With no serious injury getting in the way this time, Durant is averaging 26.6 points per game with 7.9 rebounds, enough to get him his 7th All-Star selection.
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors, Forward: Green is only the third best scorer on the Warriors, but his 14.8 points, 9.5 rebounds and 7.4 assists don’t tell the whole story of how important and good he is for the best team in the league.
Bench: James Harden (Houston Rockets), Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers), Damian Lillard (Portland Trail Blazers), DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings), Anthony Davis (Los Angeles Clippers), Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz), Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks).