NBA All-Star Game 2019: Western Conference predicted selections

Wildcard selections

Doncic has been sensational in his rookie season

Mike Conley Jr

The Grizzlies currently sit at 10th place in the Western Conference standings with an 18-19 record. After briefly taking over the #1 spot in the West in mid-November, the strength of their schedule increased considerably, and the Grizzlies' lack of depth around franchise players Conley Jr, Marc Gasol and budding youngster Jaren Jackson Jr has cost them a number of close encounters.

Conley Jr, nevertheless, has been setting himself apart in the packed Western Conference guard All-Star sweepstakes. The Grizz's schedule eases up considerably in the month of January, and if they can pull themselves a few games clear of a .500 record, Conley should be able to land his first All-Star game selection of a chequered career.

Luka Doncic

The Dallas Mavericks won the draft night in a manner reminiscent of a franchise that knows how to build a winning culture. Trading up to acquire the reigning Euroleague MVP aged just 19 years old at the time of the draft has proved to be nothing less than a masterstroke, all things considered.

Luka Doncic is already quite clearly a borderline-elite playmaker in the league. He has the offensive ability of the very greatest swingmen of all time, and is actually playing one of the best rookie seasons by a 19-year-old ever. His buzzer-beating, game-tying shot against the Trail Blazers just about a week back will be reverberating for a long time in the annals of NBA history if he continues on this trajectory.

Backing a rookie to make the cut for the All-Star game is always a very high-risk bet, but given the plethora of mid-level guards on losing teams and borderline elite competition on winning teams with smaller roles, we'd rather pick a player who's the reason his team is still in the playoff hunt.