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The NBA recently shared the first update for this year’s NBA All-Star fan voting.
Familiar names LeBron James and Kevin Durant are the respective leaders for the Western and Eastern Conferences with over 3.1 million votes each. The rest of the lists from each conference are filled with mostly the usual suspects as well.
There were also a couple of deserving first-time All-Stars, while some names on the list caught many by surprise.
So on that note, here are the five most deserving first-time NBA All-Stars who made the cut in the first fan voting returns.
#5 Jordan Poole (138,392 fan votes, 10th among West backcourt players)
The Golden State Warriors have stayed afloat over their last 10 games without superstar point guard Steph Curry. Combo guard Jordan Poole has been a big reason for this as he has averaged a team-best 28.6 points per game over his last 10 games.
For the season, Poole is now averaging a career-best 20.6 points to go along with 2.4 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game on 42.9% shooting.
However, the Warriors are just 20-19 and ninth in the Western Conference. Hence, it is unlikely they will end up receiving more than one All-Star selection outside of Curry.
#4 Paolo Banchero (212,417 fan votes, 8th among East frontcourt players)
Orlando Magic forward Paolo Banchero is currently the run-away favorite to win the NBA Rookie of the Year award this season.
Banchero has averaged 21.3 points, 6.8 rebounds and 3.9 assists per game on 43.8% shooting so far. He has been the Magic’s leading scorer and has shown flashes of becoming one of the most dominant wing scorers in the league.
Unfortunately for Banchero, he is also unlikely to make the All-Star game. The East's frontcourt is very crowded with the likes of Jayson Tatum, Joel Embiid, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Kevin Durant all vying for three starting spots.
Additionally, other stars like Pascal Siakam and Jimmy Butler will be competing for reserve spots as well.
The last few wildcard spots will probably come down to which player has led their team to the best record. Orlando is just 14-25 and 13th in the Eastern Conference even after going 9-5 in their past 14 games, which could hurt Banchero’s chances.
#3 Lauri Markkanen (466,988 fan votes, 7th among West frontcourt players)
After many expected them to tank, the Utah Jazz got off to a hot start this season. They have since cooled off a bit and sit at 20-21 and 10th in the Western Conference. However, forward Lauri Markkanen has still been playing at an All-Star level.
In his first season in Utah, Markkanen has blossomed into a first-scoring option for the first time in his career. He has averages of 24.5 points, 8.4 rebounds, 1.9 assists and 3.1 3-pointers per game. Markkanen also has a very efficient 52.9/42.0/87.7 shooting split.
It remains to be seen if this will be enough for NBA coaches to reward the sharpshooting big man with his first All-Star selection.
#2 Tyrese Haliburton (281,691 fan votes, 8th among East backcourt players)
The Indiana Pacers have been the surprise team of the NBA season so far, holding a 21-18 record and sitting seventh in the Eastern Conference.
Many expected the Pacers to tank, but they have been able to prove doubters wrong. They have third-year point guard Tyrese Haliburton, who has blossomed into a franchise-level player, to thank for their superb season so far.
Haliburton is averaging 20.6 points, and an NBA-best 10.2 assists to go along with 4.0 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 3.0 3-pointers per game. He also has an efficient 48.5/40.7/87.7 shooting split.
As long as Indiana stays competitive, Haliburton should be a lock to be selected as an All-Star.
#1 Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (911,774 fan votes, 4th among West backcourt players)
OKC Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has been playing at a superstar level this season. He is fourth in the NBA in scoring at 30.9 points per game and is also averaging 4.8 rebounds, 5.7 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.0 blocks per game on 49.7% shooting.
Overall, the shifty scorer and playmaker has been one of the best all-around players in the entire league.
At this point, the only argument against Gilgeous-Alexander becoming an All-Star is that OKC is just 16-22 and 13th in the Western Conference. However, at times, he seems to be single-handedly keeping the Thunder from tanking.
Given his exploits this season, SGA certainly deserves to make one of the reserve All-Star spots in the West.
