J-Speaks: The Starters and Reserves For 66th Annual NBA All-Star Game

On Feb. 17-19, the NBA will hold the 2017 All-Star Weekend in New Orleans, LA. The festivities will conclude with the main event, the 66^th annual NBA All-Star Game at the Smoothie King Centre, home of the New Orleans Pelicans at 8:30 p.m. on TNT, with coverage beginning at 7 p.m. The annual unofficial midseason showcase will feature 24 of the league’s brightest stars. A week from yesterday, TNT had its hour-long pre-game show, “TNT NBA Tip-Off,” presented by Autotrader where the starters for both the Eastern and Western Conference were announced, which was done by a combination of player fan and media voting and on Thursday night, the reserves for both respective conferences of two back court, three front court and two wild cards were selected by the 30 head coaches where they were responsible for voting for players they go against in their respective conference, but cannot vote for players on his own team.

The starting quintet for the East All-Stars will have a backcourt of Kyrie Irving (24.4 ppg-career-high-13^th NBA, 5.6 apg, 46.9 FG%-career-high, 40.8 3-Pt.%-career-high) of the Cleveland Cavaliers (30-14-Best in East), making his fourth appearance. He an All-Star starter in 2014 and was the game’s MVP.

He will be joined in the backcourt by DeMar DeRozan (27.9 ppg-career-high-6^th NBA, 5.3 rpg-career-high, 47.3 FG%-career-high) of the Atlantic Division leading Toronto Raptors (28-18-2^nd in East), who will be making his third appearance. He has scored 30-plus points in 20 games this season and has had three games this season of 40 points or more.

“That’s how I’ll be watch my brother as a STARTER in the 2016-17 allstar game!!!,” DeRozan’s starting backcourt mate Kyle Lowry congratulated him on his Instagram @kyle_lowry7 for being named an All-Star starter.  

In the front court is the leading vote getter with 1,893,751 votes is four-time MVP and the all-time scorer in All-Star Game history with 291 LeBron James (25.6 ppg-9^th NBA, 7.9 rpg, 8.4 apg-5^th NBA, 51.9 FG%, 36.3 3-Pt.%) of the Cavs, making his 13^th consecutive appearance.

Making his All-Star Game debut in his fourth season Giannis Antetokounmpo (23.5 ppg-14^th NBA, 8.9 rpg, 5.4 apg, 2.0 spg and 1.8 bpg, 52.9 FG%-career-high) of the Milwaukee Bucks’ He is the first Bucks’ player selected to the All-Star Game since Michael Redd in 2004 and the first one to be named a starter since Sidney Moncrief in 1986.

Rounding out the East front court is Jimmy Butler (24.9 ppg-11^th NBA, 6.6 rpg-career-high, 4.8 apg-T-career-high) of the Chicago Bulls (23-24-8^th in East), making his third straight appearance and first as a starter, who has had five 40-plus point game this season and a career-high of 52 points in the Bulls 118-111 win versus the Charlotte Hornets (23-23) back on Jan. 2.  

The West All-Star starters will consist of a backcourt of the reigning back-to-back MVP Stephen Curry (24.6 ppg-12^th NBA, 6.2 apg, 4.2 rpg 46.4 FG%, 43.9 3-Pt.%) of the defending Western Conference Champion Golden State Warriors (39-7-Best in West and NBA), making his fourth consecutive appearance as a start becoming the second player in franchise history to start four straight All-Star games joining the late Hall of Famer Wilt Chamberlin.

Joining Curry, the leading vote getter in the West amongst the fans in the backcourt is this season’s leading MVP candidate James Harden (28.6 ppg-3^rd NBA, 11.6 apg-career-high-Leads NBA, 8.1 rpg-career-high) of the Houston Rockets (34-15-3^rd in West), making his fifth straight All-Star selection, all with the Rockets. He leads the league in double-doubles with 40 and is second in the league in triple-doubles with 13, which consist of four 40-point triple-doubles. Only Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson has done that in one season along with the guy they refer to in Houston as “The Beard.”

The starters in the front court for the West consist of Kevin Durant (26.2 ppg-T-7^th NBA, 8.4 rpg, career-high, 4.7 apg) of the Warriors making his 8^th straight appearance and his sixth start. The four-time scoring champion is shooting a career-high of 54.3 percent from the floor and is averaging a career-high of 1.7 bpg.

Making his second straight All-Star Game in his sixth season is the back-to-back Defensive Player Kawhi Leonard (25.5 ppg-career-high-10^th NBA, 5.7rpg, 1.8 spg-7^th NBA, 49.0 FG%, 41.3 3-Pt.%) of the San Antonio Spurs (36-9), who has had 12 games this season of 30-points or more. He had just four games in his first five seasons.

Rounding out the starting front court in the West is Anthony Davis (28.1 ppg-career-high-4^th NBA, 11.8 rpg-career-high-8^th NBA, 2.4 bpg-2^nd NBA) of the host Pelicans (18-28), making his fourth appearance. Davis has had nine games this season of 35 points and 15 rebounds, and 14 games of 25 points and 15 rebounds.

Two seasons back, Davis was voted to start in the 2015 All-Star Game, but was unable to play because of a shoulder injury. His first of what will hopefully be many career starts in the NBA’s midseason classic will be in his home arena on Feb. 19.

“It’s going to feel amazing,” Davis said to the TNT Tip-Off crew of Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley, and Shaquille O’Neal last week. “To get to be ambassador for the city. Two years ago, I didn’t get to play when it was actually here in New Orleans. So, hopefully I can and not get hurt before the All-Star Game and go out there and put on a show for the city and represent the city of New Orleans.”

Leading off the reserves for the West the easiest selection of them all Russell Westbrook (31.0 ppg-career-high-Leads NBA, 10.2 apg-2^nd NBA, 10.6 rpg-Leads all guards-11^th NBA, 1.6 spg-Leads team) of the Oklahoma City Thunder, who has garnered a league leading 23 triple-doubles this season, five more than he had all last season and his 36 double-doubles are second only to his former teammate Harden. To put the type of season Westbrook, a six-time All-Star and the 2015 and 2016 All-Star Game MVP is having into perspective, he has a triple-double in half of the Thunder’s games played this season.

Making his third straight appearance in the NBA’s midseason classic is the other half of the “The Splash Brother” duo of the Warriors Klay Thompson (21.1 ppg, 46.7 FG%, 39.6 3-Pt.%), who scored a NBA season-high and a career-high of 60 points back on Dec. 5, 2016 versus the Indiana Pacers in the Warriors 142-106 win. Also, joining Thompson from the Warriors along with Curry and Durant is Draymond Green (10.7 ppg, 8.5 rpg-Leads team, 7.5 apg-career-high, 1.9 spg-Leads team), making his second straight appearance in his fifth season. He has garnered three triple-doubles this season after 13 a season ago.

Fresh of helping lead Team USA to a Gold Medal in Rio over the summer, DeMarcus Cousins (28.0 ppg-5^th NBA, 10.2 rpg-12^th NBA, 4.4 apg-career-high-Leads team) of the Sacramento Kings (18-27) makes the All-Star Game for the third straight season. He leads the Kings in three-pointers made with 76 and is 11^th in the league in double-doubles with 25. Cousins made just 11 triples in his first five seasons.

Perhaps one of the best centers in the game that does not get enough pub by many in Marc Gasol (20.6 ppg-career-high-Leads, 6.1 rpg, 4.2 apg) of the Memphis Grizzlies (27-20-7^th in West) is an All-Star for the second time in the last three season and being selected for the third time overall. He has also expanded his range making 64 three-pointers this season after just 12 in his first nine seasons of his career.

After coming so close to making it the last two seasons, center DeAndre Jordan (12.5 ppg, 14.0 rpg-Leads NBA, 1.8 bpg-7^th NBA, 69.0 FG%-Leads NBA) of the Los Angeles Clippers (30-17-4^th in West) makes the All-Star Game for the first time in his nine-year career. He has had 19 games of 15-plus rebounds and eight games of 20-plus boards.

Also, making his All-Star debut in his seventh NBA season is swingman Gordon Hayward (21.8 ppg-career-high, 5.7 rpg-career-high, 3.4 apg, 45.8 FG%-career-high, 39.2 3-Pt.%) of the Northwest Division leading Utah Jazz (30-18). He is the first Jazz player to be selected as a West All-Star since current Mavs lead guard Deron Williams in 2011.

“Congrats to my guy@gordonhayward well deserved man!! AKA Ed Sheeran,” Hayward’s teammate Trey Lyles said via twitter @TreyMambaLyles.  

Hayward said of the first All-Star nod after a 24-point performance in his team’s 96-88 win over the Los Angeles Lakers (16-34) to TNT’s Dennis Scott after the game, “It feels good. It feels rewarding with all the work I’ve put in. Wouldn’t have gotten there without my teammates. Without my coaches. The fans. So, I appreciate all of them. I’m pretty happy.”

While the West squad has all worthy picks for the midseason NBA classic, the one mistake is that Westbrook was not selected as a starter with the season he has put together so far.

“How is Russell Westbrook not an all-star starter!? He is playing out of his mind,” Oakland Raiders starting quarterback Derek Carr expressed on his twitter page @derek carrqb.

The reserves for the East All-Stars begin with lead guard of the Boston Celtics (27-18-3^rd in East) Isaiah Thomas (29.1 ppg-career-high-2^nd NBA, 6.2 apg-T-career-high, 46.2 FG%-career-high, 38.0 3-Pt.%-career-high), making his second straight appearance. The final pick, No. 60 overall in the 2011 draft has 15 games this year of at least 30 points.

Making the East All-Stars for the fourth time is lead guard John Wall (23.1 ppg-career-high, 10.1 apg-3^rd NBA, 2.2 spg-2^nd NBA, 46.4 FG%-career-high, 82.4 FT%-career-high) of the Washington Wizards (25-20-5^th in East). The No. 1 overall pick in the 2010 draft is second amongst NBA guards with 25 double-doubles and is the only guard in the East averaging 20 points and 10 assists per game.  

Not bad for a guy who in the off-season had surgery on both knees and was unlikely to play back-to-back until this month. On top of that, Wall started the season off slowly as did the Wizards as a team starting 6-12 under new head coach Scott Brooks. They have gone 19-8 since then.

“Just a lot of hard work and dedication,” Wall said to Johnson, Smith, Barkley, and O’Neal during TNT NBA Tip-Off on Thursday. “Throughout the summer, I had a rehab process that somedays I wanted to quit. It got boring, but my physical therapy guy Jessie just kept pushing me. Just having my family and friends around and it paid off at the end of the day.”

Making his return to the All-Star Game is Kevin Love (20.5 ppg, 11.0 rpg-10^th NBA, 37.6 3-Pt.%) of the Cavs, making it for the fourth time in his career. He is the only player in the East averaging 20 points and 10 rebounds per contest.

Joining DeRozan in the All-Star Game for the second straight season is Lowry (22.4 ppg-career-high, 6.9 apg-Leads team, 4.8 rpg, 46.9 FG%, 42.2 3-Pt.%-career-high) of the Raptors, who made it for the third time in his career. He has had five games of at least 30 points this season.

Making the All-Star Game for the fourth time in his career is swingman Paul George (22.4 ppg-Leads team, 6.0 rpg, 3.3 apg, 1.7 spg, 45.3 FG%-T-career-high, 39.3 3-Pt.%) of the Indiana Pacers (23-22-6^th in East), whose had six games of 30 points or more this season.

Earning his first All-Star nod is guard Kemba Walker (23.0 ppg-career-high, 5.5 apg-Leads team, 45.7 FG%-career-high, 41.1 3-Pt.%-career-high) of the Hornets, becoming the team’s first All-Star selection since Gerald Wallace in 2010, when the team was called the Charlotte Bobcats.

Atlanta Hawks (27-19-4^th in East) forward Paul Millsap (18.0 ppg-Leads team-career-high, 8.1 rpg, 3.8 apg-career-high, 1.5 spg), making his fourth straight appearance in the midseason classic rounds out the East All-Stars.

In looking at both All-Star rosters, each player that made it is well deserving and deserves a tremendous amount of congrats. It is also around this time to ponder who should have made it that did not.

The most obvious one is Clippers’ lead guard Chris Paul (17.5 ppg, 9.7 apg-4^th NBA, 2.3 spg-Leads NBA), but is sidelined and will be out after sustaining torn ligament in his left thumb back on Jan. 16 versus the Thunder and is not expected back until March at the earliest.

Three other players that had a serious shot at making the midseason classic are Grizzlies starting lead guard Mike Conley (18.6 ppg-career-high, 6.2 apg-Leads team, 40.1 3-Pt.%-career-high); Jazz starting center Rudy Gobert, who has averaged career-highs of 12.8 points, 12.6 boards, which is 5^th in the league, a league leading 2.6 blocks and is second in the NBA shooting 66.1 percent from the floor. Gobert is also the only player to rank in the Top Three in blocks per contest over the last three seasons. Wizards guard Bradley Beal, who is averaging a career-bests of 21.9 points and 3.4 assists per contest on 45.5 percent from the field and is shooting 38.6 percent from three-point range. On top of that, the former Florida Gator has stayed relatively healthy this season playing in 47 of the team’s 52 games this season.

“He’s having a heck of a year,” Wall said on Thursday to the TNT crew. “I told everybody, let him earn his money this season. He’s been healthy and after any other shooting guard after DeMar DeRozan, he’s putting up big numbers in the East.”

Wall reiterated that point by saying when he and Beal are both healthy, they are the best back court in the “The Association.” As to who is second best, Wall said to the TNT crew, “They have to figure it out from there.”

It should be a solid conclusion to the All-Star festivities in the “Big Easy” and it all gets underway on Feb. 17 and concludes with the 66^th annual NBA All-Star Game on Feb. 19 on TNT.

Information, statistics and quotations are courtesy of 1/19/17 and 1/26/17, 7 p.m. edition of “NBA Tip-Off,” presented by Autotrader with Ernie Johnson, Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley and Shaquille O’Neal; 1/26/17 10:30 p.m. contest between the Los Angeles Lakers versus Utah Jazz on TNT with Marv Albert, Chris Webber and Dennis Scott;  www.nba.com/allstar; www.espn.com/nba/teams; www.nba.com/nba/statistics and www.espn.com/nba/standings.