The NBA season has had its top superstars perform at the highest level. LeBron James is playing like the best player in the NBA, Nikola Jokic is averaging a near triple-double, and Joel Embiid is the best player in the East right now. But we have also seen the rise of other NBA stars that have taken their games to the next level.
In fact, several players have made a name for themselves this season and look to be on track for their first All-Star Team selections. Here are the 10 players likely to make their first All-Star Team this season.
10. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
2020-2021 Statistics: 21.8 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 6.5 APG, 0.9 SPG, 0.6 BPG
Gilgeous-Alexander is everything you want from a franchise point guard. He is athletic, affects the game in many ways, and is a great go-to scorer. Gilgeous-Alexander is having a career year across the board and even if the Oklahoma City Thunder fail to win many games, he is making a great case for being a Western Conference All-Star.
9. Zion Williamson
2020-2021 Statistics: 23.9 PPG, 7.5 RPG, 1.9 APG, 1.1 SPG, 0.5 BPG
Zion Williamson will always have a case for being an All-Star due to his popularity, and fans across the world want to see him compete with the NBA’s top players. But Zion has also been superb with his scoring and rebounding, and it is a blessing to see him healthy. Williamson has a strong case for being an All-Star but it would require a great effort on his part to make it.
8. Malcolm Brogdon
2020-2021 Statistics: 22.8 PPG, 4.3 RPG, 7.1 APG, 1.4 SPG, 0.2 BPG
The Indiana Pacers decided to move on from Victor Oladipo, mainly because they have Brogdon playing at a high level. Brogdon is the best shooter on the team and has a tremendous leadership trait about him. The duo of Brogdon and Sabonis on the team is very promising, and the return of Caris LeVert next season makes Indiana a problem in the East.
7. Julius Randle
2020-2021 Statistics: 22.5 PPG, 11.3 RPG, 6.0 APG, 0.7 SPG, 0.2 BPG
The New York Knicks have finally looked competitive after so long. The Knicks are playing hard under Tom Thibedeau and Julius Randle is having a career year. Randle has always been a nice player but he is having a tremendous impact on his team. The Knicks hold the 8th seed in the East to everyone’s surprise, and Julius Randle deserves credit for that.
6. Collin Sexton
2020-2021 Statistics: 25.2 PPG, 2.7 RPG, 4.2 APG, 1.2 SPG, 0.2 BPG
Collin Sexton is certainly making a name for himself in the NBA this season. He had a massive 42-point performance to upset the debut of Brooklyn’s Big Three of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, and James Harden. He followed that up with a 25-point and 9-assist performance in just one game later. Of course, both games resulted in Cavaliers’ wins. But beyond those two games, Sexton is having a career year from deep and has looked like an All-Star from the start.
5. Christian Wood
2020-2021 Statistics: 23.4 PPG, 10.8 RPG, 1.3 APG, 0.8 SPG, 1.7 BPG
The Houston Rockets were supposed to be in the dumps after losing a top-5 player and MVP in James Harden. But in many ways, they have looked better. Christian Wood signed a big deal to join the Houston Rockets in Free Agency, and he has had the biggest impact on the team. Wood showed flashes of brilliance in limited time with the Pistons last season, but he has been one of the best bigs in the NBA this year and is a force on offense.
4. Jerami Grant
2020-2021 Statistics: 23.8 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.9 APG, 0.9 SPG, 1.2 BPG
Jerami Grant signed a $60-million contract with the Detroit Pistons this season, which was shocking to many fans as Grant was a role player for his entire career. But Grant has rewarded the Pistons with his stellar play, particularly on offense. Grant is the leading scorer for his team and has looked like a go-to scorer when he’s needed. Grant deserves an All-Star berth and he might just get it.
3. CJ McCollum
2020-2021 Statistics: 26.7 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 5.0 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.3 BPG
Damian Lillard steals all the thunder for the Portland Trail Blazers, but CJ McCollum is playing at his best right now. McCollum is having a career year on offense and has out-shot Damian Lillard from deep as he is draining more threes at a higher percentage. Unfortunately, McCollum is likely out for a month which hurts his All-Star case but he has been one since the start of the season.
2. Zach LaVine
2020-2021 Statistics: 27.0 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 5.3 APG, 1.3 SPG, 0.6 BPG
There is no doubt that Zach LaVine is an NBA All-Star. Playing for a team that isn’t competitive, LaVine has carried them all season long. LaVine’s numbers are up but he is shooting 50.2% from the field which is astonishing. LaVine is generating a ton of interest from teams across the league and his first All-Star Team appearance will only boost that.
1. Jaylen Brown
2020-2021 Statistics: 27.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG, 3.5 APG, 1.5 SPG, 0.6 BPG
The Boston Celtics have a superstar in Jayson Tatum, but they have found a perfectly capable All-Star partner for him in Jaylen Brown. Brown has always been a very good player thanks to his athleticism and offense, but this season he has taken it to a different level. The Celtics currently hold the 4th seed in the East and are playing some great team basketball. Even more surprising: Jaylen Brown is leading the Celtics in scoring at 27.1 PPG. Brown will be an All-Star this season and you can book it.
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