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Every season, the NBA hosts an All-Star weekend where the league's superstars come together for a friendly game of basketball as the main event. Featuring in this event is an honor, as it is a clear indication that your abilities are being recognized.
While most players never get to feature in one, every youngster coming into the NBA is hoping to make it to the All-Star list sometime before the end of their careers. LeBron James has the third-most All-Star appearances in the NBA and is the only active player on the top 20 list.
With age on his side and the yearly introduction of new talent, there might be a new set of stars that will impress enough to make their first All-Star appearance. Numerous talents have shown potential in the 2020-21 NBA season and might be up for consideration in the 2021-22 season if they can continue to develop their skills.
That said, here are five players who showcased All-Star potential during the 2020-21 NBA season.
#5 Michael Porter Jr.
Michael Porter Jr. showed much improvement in his second active season. His game has evolved, and he fits into his new role perfectly. He created several scoring options for the Denver Nuggets and was the beneficiary of several of Nikola Jokic's dimes.
The case for him to be an All-Star is not super strong at this stage, but his performance in the 2020-21 season has shown that the forward is one for the future. He finished the season with an average of 19 points per game and 7.3 rebounds.
Michael was instrumental in the Nuggets' run in the 2021 NBA playoffs. His contribution ensured the team made a somewhat deep run without Jamal Murray.
#4 LaMelo Ball
LaMelo Ball won the 2021 NBA Rookie of the Year award after an explosive run all-season long with the Charlotte Hornets. However, Ball could not join the league of rookies that made the All-Star game.
Ball featured in only 51 games for the Hornets and started 31. But he managed to influence the game even better than a few starters. He finished the season with an average of 15.7 points, 5.9 rebounds, 6.1 assists, and 1.6 steals.
Although making the All-Star list is no easy feat, the 19-year-old registered stellar displays that are enough to at least put him in the conversation. He came into the league with an edge and will make the list sooner rather than later if he continues to be as explosive.
#3 Ja Morant
Ja Morant was the reigning NBA Rookie of the year in the 2020-21 season and registered All-Star performances to further show why he deserved the award. Although the youngster struggled with consistency, he is still one of the most highly-rated players in the league that showed All-Star potential.
For a player in his second season, he has done a great job staking his claim as a starter with the Memphis Grizzlies. Morant was not free of the injury bug that plagued the NBA this season, missing nine games early on. Despite that little break in transmission, Morant averaged 19.1 points, four rebounds and 7.4 assists.
The Memphis Grizzlies also overcame the San Antonio Spurs and Golden State Warriors in the inaugural play-in tournament to clinch the 8th seed in the 2021 NBA playoffs. However, the Utah Jazz sent them home in the first round, only after Morant continuously displayed All-Star performances that were not expected from a playoff debutant.
#2 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has shown All-Star potential since his rookie season but did not have the opportunity to explode early on in his career. He was third-favorite in an OKC Thunder team that had Chris Paul and Dennis Schroder.
Regardless, Shai continued to impress whenever he was given the chance to bring the ball up the court. The 2020-21 NBA season was an excellent opportunity that the guard grabbed with both hands as he was in the starting lineup.
Injuries derailed the youngster's season, resulting in him playing only 35 out of 72 fixtures in the 2020-21 season. Although he didn't make the 2020-21 NBA All-Star list, he is one of the players that will be watched keenly. He finished the regular season averaging 23.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 5.9 assists.
#1 Jaylen Brown
It was impossible not to notice Jaylen Brown in the 2020-21 season even though he missed 14 games due to injury. Brown was an unstoppable force and has caused a lot of problems for opposition defenders.
His partnership with Jayson Tatum bore fruit for the Boston Celtics as he ended the season with an average of 24.7 points, 6 rebounds and 3.4 assists. In all, the Celtics' shooting guard was rewarded with his first-ever All-Star appearance after four seasons in the NBA.
The Boston Celtics missed the All-Star in the 2021 NBA playoffs due to his struggle with a wrist injury. As a result, the Celtics did not stand a chance against the Brooklyn Nets superteam.
Guess the Lakers players!
