Predicting the NBA All-Star game roster for 2018-19 Season

Modified Nov 08, 2022 11:35 GMT

Eastern Conference Frontcourt

Joel Embiid

New Orleans Pelicans v Philadelphia 76ers

While the backcourt starting spots are up for debate, the frontcourt has 3 bonafide MVP contenders and we'll start off with Joel Embiid.

Unlike Simmons, Embiid has kicked on from last season and is averaging career highs in points and rebounds with 26.4 points and 13.3 rebounds while still being one of the premier defensive bigs in the league. He'll most definitely be starting the All-Star game for the 2nd year in a row.

Giannis Antetokounmpo

Giannis continues to put up ridiculous numbers for the 2nd seeded Bucks. He's averaging 26.8 points on nearly 60% shooting to go along with 13.1 rebounds and 6 assists.

He's benefitted massively from playing under Budenholzer's passing and ball movement offense and so have the Bucks as a whole, which explains their leap towards the higher echelons of the Eastern Conference.

Kawhi Leonard

There were questions surrounding Kawhi's health and willingness to play for the Raptors and it's safe to say he's answered those questions pretty well. He does sit out a fair share of games, which is sort of understandable for a guy who basically missed the whole of last season, but whenever he's played, Leonard has been impeccable.

He's on pace for career highs in points and rebounds while leading Toronto's charge for the Number 1 seed, which all but guarantees that he'll start this All-Star game.

Jimmy Butler

Jimmy Buckets might have had a relatively tougher time making the team out West, but he walks into the roster after being traded to Philly. Butler is getting accustomed to playing with Simmons and Embiid, so it's understandable that his numbers don't jump out of the screen, but his impact is undeniable.

The Sixers are 11-4 with him in the starting lineup and are 0-3 without him since the trade. Granted that has something to do with the lack of depth, but Butler's impact is there for all to see.

Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin was written off coming into this season. He was too injury prone and with his advancing age, people expected him to wobble into the sunset, but that hasn't happened.

Blake is having one of the better years of his career and is actually having his best season from a scoring standpoint with 25.4 points a game. The Pistons are currently the 6th seed and should they remain in playoff contention, Blake is easily going to make the Roster this time around.

Andre Drummond

It's going to be weird for two players from a .500 ballclub to make the All-Star roster, but Drummond is likely to join Griffin on the team. He's averaging career highs in points at 18 a game and blocks at 1.9 a game, while leading the league in rebounds at 15.5 a game, over a rebound clear of DeAndre Jordan at 13.9 a game.

One has to wonder why the Pistons aren't better with their bigs playing as well as they are, but it is what it is. Drummond is probably going to be an All-Star for the 3rd time in his career.

Nikola Vucevic

Not many people realize that the Orlando Magic are in fact in the playoff spots in the East and their big man from Montenegro is a big reason why. Nikola Vucevic is averaging career highs in points at 20.6 and assists at 3.7 while hauling in 11.7 rebounds a game for the Magic who are currently the 8th seed in the East.

Your team winning some games does play a factor when coaches vote for the reserves and based on this year, Vucevic should make it over the likes of Zach Lavine and Bradley Beal.