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As things stand, the 2020-21 NBA All-Star game is predicted to be canceled due to the lack of fans in the arena. Additionally, having several teams travel to one destination for an exhibition game during a pandemic doesn't seem like a good idea. However, players still deserve All-Star selections despite the lack of an official game. Their hard work and exceptional performances deserve to be recognized and the fans will vote on their choices for All-Stars.
The All-Stars are selected primarily via fan votes, as well as player and media votes. Fans tend to be biassed towards their favorite players and ignore the season performances. For example, last season, Stephen Curry and Derrick Rose got an incredible number of votes despite missing time through injury and failing to finish in the top eight places in their respective Conferences.
Predicted starting 5 for the Western Conference All-Star selections
Some of these players are obvious selections, as superstar athletes and well-known names will be selected even if they have a bad season. The best example is the previous season when Stephen Curry got the sixth most fan votes for the Western Conference backcourt despite playing just four games in the season.
Without further ado, Let's predict the starting 5 for the Western Conference All-Stars.
Guard - LeBron James
This isn't even worthy of being labeled a 'prediction'. There isn't a doubt in anyone's mind that LeBron James will have an All-Star selection next season. Hypothetically, even if LeBron James gets injured for the entire first half of the season, he will still be one of the top vote earners.
This will be LeBron James' 17th All-Star selection and he will rank 3rd in All-Time All-Star selections, just behind Kobe Bryant (18) and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar (19).
Even though most people recognize James as a forward, he was listed as the LA Lakers' point guard last season.
Guard - Stephen Curry
Fans are eagerly waiting for Stephen Curry to return to the court next season. After dominating the league for five straight seasons, fans are expecting Curry to rain threes again. Stephen Curry is a superstar athlete who has his own brand and is credited with changing the game. The Golden State Warriors guard is an obvious selection in the All-Star starters.
Stephen Curry was one of the two captains for the 2018 All-Star game and was on a streak of six consecutive All-Star appearances before missing out through injury last year.
Forward - Kawhi Leonard
Kawhi Leonard has evolved into a bonafide superstar. He led the Toronto Raptors to their first-ever NBA title and has won two Finals MVPs. Leonard is also frequently labeled as the best two-way player in the NBA.
He won the 2020 NBA All-Star Game MVP and this will be Kawhi Leonard's 5th All-Star selection. He is the ideal small forward for the starting lineup as no other small forward is capable of putting up similar stats and earning a selection over him in the starting 5.
The LA Clippers have had just 29 All-Star selections in their franchise history and Leonard may be the 30th.
Forward - Anthony Davis
Anthony Davis is certainly going to be a starter in the 2021 NBA All-Star selections. He was the 2017 All-Star Game MVP and broke Wilt Chamberlain's All-Star game record of 42 points after scoring 52 points.
Davis was a candidate for league MVP and 'Defensive Player of the Year' last year and has made the All-NBA first team four times. Playing alongside LeBron James at the Staples Center will certainly put him in the spotlight for an All-Star selection as a starter.
Center - Nikola Jokic
The 25-year-old Serbian center, Nikola Jokic is often regarded as the best passing center in the NBA. He racks up triple-doubles with ease and this will be his 3rd All-Star appearance.
Jokic believes he was snubbed as All-Star game MVP last season and is the obvious choice for a starting center for the All-Star game. Jokic, along with Jamal Murray, led the Denver Nuggets to the Western Conference Finals in the 2020 NBA Playoffs.
2020-21 All-Star Reserve predictions - Western Conference
- Jamal Murray
- Devin Booker
- Brandon Ingram
- Zion Williamson
- Paul George
- Rudy Gobert
- Carmelo Anthony
- Kristaps Porzingis
- Luka Doncic
- James Harden
- Damian Lillard
- Donovan Mitchell
- Ja Morant
There are 7 reserves in an NBA All-Star game and these 13 stars will compete for the chance to make the All-Star reserves for the Western Conference.
Also Read: NBA Preseason 2020-21: 5 major questions looming over everyone's head before the season starts
