West All-Stars
- Russell Westbrook (Oklahoma City Thunder): Without Kevin Durant, Russ has been able to average a triple-double this season and is one of the leading candidates for MVP.
- James Harden (Houston Rockets): After becoming the Rockets’ point guard, Harden has become one of the best passers and most prolific scorers in the league this season.
- Kevin Durant (Golden State Warriors): The decision for KD to go to the Warriors has been recognized as “weakest move by a superstar.” Nevertheless, Durant has become the Warriors’ leading scorer and has drastically improved his defense.
- Kawhi Leonard (San Antonio Spurs): The two time Defensive Player of the Year has transcended his game by improving his playing efficiency and offense. The entire Spurs organization is being carried by this future MVP.
- Anthony Davis (New Orleans Pelicans): At the young age of 23, Anthony Davis has developed into one of the best and most versatile big men in NBA. “The Brow” is averaging a career high 29 points and 12 rebounds while still being extremely efficient.
- Stephen Curry (Golden State Warriors): Even though Curry’s numbers have slightly dropped, the back to back MVP is still averaging 25 points and is the primary contributor to the Warriors’ offense. He is still one of the most elite point guards in the league and his main priority is to redeem himself in the NBA Finals.
- Karl-Anthony Towns (Minnesota Timberwolves): Only a sophomore, Towns has developed into one of the most fundamentally sound big men. With a variety of post moves, Towns is capable of scoring midrange and three-point shots. Winning Rookie of the Year last year was the first step for him becoming a perennial all-star.
- Klay Thompson (Golden State Warriors): With the addition of Kevin Durant, people thought that Klay’s scoring prowess would decline. Even after a slow start, Klay surprised the world by scoring 60 points in only 29 minutes. He is perhaps one of the best two-way guards and takes the hardest defensive assignments for his team.
- Chris Paul (Los Angeles Clippers): Arguably one of the best floor generals in the league, Chris Paul is both an elite defender and an superior passer. At the age of 31, Paul still averages a solid 18 points and 10 assists.
- DeMarcus Cousins (Sacramento Kings): This hotheaded center continues to be an unstoppable offensive force in the post. Like Towns, “Boogie” has also been able to extend his ability to shoot from the three-point line, making him a threat from all over the court.
- Damian Lillard (Portland Trailblazers): Snubbed from being an All-Star last year, Lillard has proven himself to one of the most potent offensive players in this league. He averages a career high 26 points and is a part of the highest scoring backcourt this year.
- Gordon Hayward (Utah Jazz): Considered to be one of the best young small forwards in this league, Hayward is averaging career highs in almost all statistical categories. He will finally lead the Jazz to the playoffs and be both an offensive and defensive threat to the Western Conference powerhouses.
Starters: Russell Westbrook, James Harden, Kevin Durant, Kawhi Leonard, Anthony Davis
East All-Stars
- LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers): King James may be having one of his now normal less-than-100-percent-effort seasons, but even at a fraction of his old self he is one of the best of the year.
- Kyle Lowry (Toronto Raptors): What a time to be a Raptors fan. Two of the best guards in the game, perfectly complementing each other. Lowry, for his part, has become one of the best point guards in the East, in what is now the second-most-competitive position behind, of course, small forward.
- Giannis Antetokounmpo (Milwaukee Bucks): The Greek Freak has come into his own this year as the star of the Bucks, outplaying even Lebron. His stats freakishly resemble those of James, showing Giannis has come into his own as one of the best players in the NBA.
- DeMar DeRozan (Toronto Raptors): DeRozan continues to be a scoring machine for the Raptors, being ever the threat to drop 40 points. He also adds above-average defense to a squad that sorely needs it.
- Hassan Whiteside (Miami Heat): A huge surprise a couple of years ago, Whiteside continues to dominate the low post on both sides of the court, although he has been forced to take up far too much responsibility with Bosh out.
- Jimmy Butler (Chicago Bulls): Always a defensive stalwart, Butler has loudly transitioned into a dominant offensive player for a Bulls team that has an all-new look. Averaging 25 points, seven rebounds and five assists per game, he is challenging LeBron for the title of the East’s best two-way player.
- Joel Embiid (Philadelphia 76ers): The only rookie on the list, Embiid has done all he can with a minute restriction this year. Only playing 25 minutes per game, he still manages to average around 20 points, eight rebounds and two and a half blocks. Extrapolated to 36 minutes, his stats come out to 28 points, 11 rebounds and a staggering three and a half blocks.
- Isaiah Thomas (Boston Celtics): Named after an NBA great, he has begun to truly live up to his name. Leading a Celtics squad that is in third in the East at the time of writing, the little guy is a picture of consistency, seemingly scoring 25 points or more every game, much of it coming in the final quarter for which he has been given the cringeworthy nickname of “King in the Fourth.”
- Jabari Parker (Milwaukee Bucks): His inclusion is sure to be surprising to many, but the young man out of Duke has proven to be worthy of his second overall slot in the draft. While on the same team as Antetokounmpo, Parker has still managed to find a niche, becoming one of the better stretch fours in the league and a surprisingly efficient inside scorer to boot.
- Kevin Love (Cleveland Cavaliers): Long considered the third wheel on the Cavs, the former MVP frontrunner has returned to form this year, averaging a double-double and improving in the post. Love has found a way to reinvent himself from the elite scorer he once was, and has shown that he has what it takes to be both a champion and an All-Star.
- Dwyane Wade (Chicago Bulls): After concerns about Wade being a second fiddle in Miami to the King, he has assumed the role once again on the Bulls. Nonetheless, he boasts greatly improved three-point shooting numbers and continues to score even as the Bulls falter.
- John Wall (Washington Wizards): Boogie’s former teammate and current friend has put up monster numbers on a quickly improving Wizards team. Along with Bradley Beal, Wall has been enjoying a career year, checking in at second in steals per game and third in assists per game in addition to dropping 23 points per game on 46 percent shooting.
Starters: Isaiah Thomas, Demar DeRozan, Jimmy Butler, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kevin Love
