Predicting First-Time All-Stars for This Season – CrownHoops
Every season, the NBA All-Star Game is a staple that fans and media all look forward to come February. Every year, there are always a few surprises. With that, comes a few players playing in their first ever NBA All-Star Game. With this in mind, it is time to predict which NBA players are destined to become first-time All-Stars this season. Without further adieu, let’s take a look at three players who could find themselves taking a trip in February.
All-Star Candidate #1
The Oklahoma City Thunder may not be anything to write home about this year, but Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) has been having the best season of his career. With a young core and the team rebuilding, the point guard has been one of their few bright spots. So far, SGA is averaging 31.0 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game. On top of this, he is also shooting an effective field goal percentage of 52.9 percent. SGA is one of the more quick and electrifying guards in the league. As a result, that makes him an ideal candidate to be a first-time All-Star this year.
All-Star Candidate #2
Who would have thought the first All-Star teammate Nikola Jokic would ever have would be someone other than Jamal Murray or Michael Porter? Well, it is a realistic possibility this season with the way Aaron Gordon has been playing. Aaron Gordon is having the most efficient season of his career. He is currently averaging 16.9 points on an effective field goal percentage of 66.2 percent and his playing his best offensive basketball of his career. Not to mention, Gordon is also averaging 6.4 rebounds per game and is also tallying a player efficiency rating of 21.7, a career-best in that category. With the Denver Nuggets in the thick of it for the top seed in the league, do not be surprised if Aaron Gordon gets an All-Star bid in February.
All-Star Candidate #3
Tyrese Haliburton is one of the few bright spots from the 2020 NBA Draft. After a brief stint with the Sacramento Kings, he found himself traded to the Indiana Pacers. He has found a true home with Indiana as he has them in the middle of the playoff picture and has improved his passing game ten-fold. So far, this year, Haliburton is averaging 19.8 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 10.6 assists per game. Perhaps what is most impressive is his 57.5 effective field goal percent or even his low 2.8 turnovers per game total.
While Tyrese Haliburton may not be a household name in the NBA as of yet, he is certainly making a strong case for becoming a first-time All-Star this season. He and Buddy Hield form a deadly three- point shooting partnership for the Indiana Pacers. This is a big reason the Indiana Pacers are one of this season’s biggest surprises. With all of this in mind, it is easy to see why these three players could find themselves in their first All-Star Game come February.
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