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With the new year underway, we are moving closer and closer to the NBA's highly anticipated 2023 All-Star Game. With the NBA set to announce the All-Star starters and team captains Thursday night on TNT, fans are eager for updates.
While fan favorite Lauri Markkanen continues to be discussed as a potential All-Star, there are five fan favorites who have dominated recent All-Star conversations.
5: Kyle Kuzma
Kyle Kuzma is having a great season with the Washington Wizards. He is showing that he can dominate games and contribute in a major way as a starter. Kuzma is averaging a career-high 22.0 points, 7.6 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game on a career-high 45.9% shooting.
Add onto that a big 40-point performance this month, and it's no wonder fans want to see Kuz in the 2023 All-Star Game.
4: Tyrese Haliburton
Although New York Knicks reporter Wally Szczerbiak questioned Tyrese Haliburton's status as an All-Star (but later apologised), fans have made it clear they want to see him at the All-Star weekend. While he has missed seven straight games with injuries, Haliburton leads the league in assists at 10.2 per game.
Between being one of the key driving factors in the Pacers' success as a team and his success on an individual level, fans are hoping Haliburton earns All-Star honors. Whether or not he's healthy enough to compete in the All-Star weekend remains to be seen.
3: Paolo Banchero
Paolo Banchero has made an immediate impact since joining the Orlando Magic. In 40 games, the rookie out of Duke has averaged an impressive 20.7 ppg on 43.9% shooting. While the Magic's season has been marred by injuries, the team has gone on hot streaks, largely thanks to Banchero.
The team rattled off six straight wins in December, beating the first-place Boston Celtics twice. While it's incredibly rare to see a rookie make the All-Star Game, Banchero's play has fans clamoring for him to be nominated.
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2: Austin Reaves
After going undrafted in 2021, Austin Reaves signed a two-way contract with the LA Lakers in August 2021. The following month, his contract was converted to a standard NBA contract. After averaging 7.3 ppg last season, Reaves is now averaging 10.8 ppg on 36.0% shooting from beyond the arc.
While the Lakers have struggled, Reaves' performance has earned him widespread admiration from fans, who want to see him make the 2023 All-Star Game.
1: Derrick Rose
There is perhaps no player more universally loved (except maybe Boban Marjnanovic) than Derrick Rose. While the former MVP from Chicago continues to deal with injuries and a lack of playing time with the New York Knicks, fans still adore the former Chicago star.
Despite playing in just 26 games, and averaging a career-low 5.8 points per game, fans want Derrick Rose to make the 2023 All-Star Game roster. While fan votes do factor into who gets nominated, Rose's chances seem like a long shot.
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Guess the Lakers players!
