Each and every year we debate which players should be on the NBA All-Star team. So, let’s start the debate on the eastern conference side. Which players should start the game?

Starters

There are two backcourt and three frontcourt spots that are available for the starting line-up. Here are my selection for those spots.

Jalen Brunson

The New York Knicks are 26-15, which currently has them with the third best record in the eastern conference. They are led by Brunson who is having another great season, averaging 25.1 points, 7.5 assists, and only 2.4 turnovers per game.

He is putting up these numbers while being efficient, shooting 47% from the floor and 38% from three. The combination of his stats with the team’s success have earned him a starting spot.

Darius Garland

The Cleveland Cavaliers have been the best team in the NBA so far this season. They are currently 33-5 with Garland leading the offense. The Cavs deserve to have at least one person starting in the game. I choose Darius Garland but if you picked Donovan Mitchell, I have no issue with that.

The reason I choose Garland is the combination of his efficiency and playmaking. He is averaging 21 points, and 6.7 assists per game while having a real shot at joining the 50-40-90 club. Garland is shooting 50% from the floor, 43% from three point range, and 91% from the free throw. This feat has only been accomplished 14 times in NBA history.

Jayson Tatum

The Boston Celtics are among the NBA’s best, as expected. They are 28-11, which is good enough for the second best record in the eastern conference. Tatum has been the best player on this team.

He is averaging 27.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 5.5 assists per game while shooting 46% from the floor, 36% from three point range.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

The Milwaukee Bucks got off to a horrible start this season but have recovered and are now back in the thick of the playoff race in the eastern conference, mostly due to the excellent play of Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Antetokounmpo seems to always improve in one way or another each season. This season the improvement is in his mid-range game. He is so comfortable in the mid-range taking jumpers.

Giannis is making 54% of his shots that are taken from 10-14 feet away from the basket. He also shooting 46% on shots, 15-19 feet away from the basket. Last season he shot 32% from 10-14 feet and 34% from 15-19 feet.

This improvement has helped Giannis as he continues to be one of the most productive players in the game. He leads the league in scoring at 31.4 points per game, while also rebounding at a high rate with 11.9 per game and dishing out 6 assists per game.

Karl Anthony-Towns

One of the best stories of this season has been the play of Karl Anthony-Towns. KAT has always been a tremendous talent but boneheaded mistakes and what seemed like a lack of maturity would overshadow his production at times.

That has not been the case in his first season as a New York Knick. Towns is having arguably his best season. He is averaging 25.4 points and 13.9 rebounds, while shooting 55% from the floor and 45% from three point range.

Reserves

There are seven spots on the all-star bench, there are two backcourt spots, three frontcourt spots, and two wildcard spots.

Donovan Mitchell

Donovan Mitchell is the leading scorer on the best team in the NBA. He is averaging 22.8 points per game while shooting 45% from the floor and 41% from three for the, 33-5 Cleveland Cavaliers.

Cade Cunningham

The Detroit Pistons are truly competitive for the first time this decade. The team is lead by their point guard Cade Cunningham. Cunningham is averaging 24.5 points, 9.4 assists, and 6.6 rebounds per game, while shooting 46% from the floor and 38% from three.

Jaylen Brown

Jaylen Brown is having another great season for the Boston Celtics. Brown is averaging 23.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 4.8 assists while shooting 46% from the floor.

Evan Mobley

The Cavaliers are true title contenders and one of the main reasons for that is the emergence of Evan Mobley. Mobley is one of the most versatile defenders in the NBA while also scoring 19 points a game. He is scoring in an efficient manner, shooting 57% from the floor and 41% from three.

Jarrett Allen

It is very rare to see a single team have four players selected to the all-star team but if any team deserves that, its the Cavaliers. Jarrett Allen has had an excellent season on both sides of the court. He is averaging 14.1 points and 10.2 rebounds per game while shooting 70% from the floor.

Trae Young

Trae Young is one of the most polarizing players in the NBA and seems to be in the discussion for biggest all-star snub on a consistent basis. This year I believe he deserves a spot because of the impact he has had on winning for the Atlanta Hawks.

Young is averaging 22.5 points and a league leading 12.1 assists per game for the Hawks who are seventh in the NBA in points per game.

Damian Lillard

Damian Lillard is having another very good season. He is averaging 24.8 points and 7.3 assists per game, while shooting 44% from the floor and 37.5% from three for the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Replacements

Every year there is a player or players who are unable to play in the all-star game due to injury. Here are the players who should be first in line to replace an injured player.

LaMelo Ball

The Charlotte Hornets are terrible right now and that’s the main reason LaMelo Ball was not one of my picks to be on the all-star team. The Hornets’ struggles have not been Ball’s fault though. He is having an amazing season, averaging 29.7 points, 7.4 assists, and 5.4 rebounds per game.

Tyler Herro

The Miami Heat have been in the news for everything but basketball this season, which is why Tyler Herro’s play has gone under the radar. Herro is averaging 24.7 points, 5.7 rebounds, and 5.1 assists per game, while shooting 47% from the floor and 40% from three.

Pascal Siakam

The Indiana Pacers had a slow start to the season but have really turned it around over the last few weeks. Along with Tyrese Haliburton, Pascal Siakam has been one of the main reasons for this turn around. Siakam is averaging 20 points and 7.4 assists per game while shooting 52% from the floor and 40% from three point range.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. Do you agree with my selections? If not, how does your roster look?