NBA Western Conference All-Star roster predictions

After a down season for the conference a year ago, the West has returned to being a powerhouse full of strong teams and star players. There are a lot of suitable choices for the Western Conference All-Star team this season, and some popular names might find themselves outside of the starting lineup.

The rise to prominence that the Minnesota Timberwolves guard has shown in the last few months has been exceptional. It started with clutch performances for Team USA in the World Basketball Championships over the summer, and has parlayed itself into a big year for Edwards in the NBA. If the Timberwolves remain at the top of the standings, he deserves to start.

Gilgeous-Alexander is an automatic All-Star this season, but his inclusion in the starting lineup might be controversial for some. He will have leapfrogged the likes of Stephen Curry and Luka Doncic to get there, but Gilgeous-Alexander has been fantastic this season. In addition to his scoring prowess, he also leads the league in steals.

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Some might give James a token starting spot in the All-Star game until he retires, but the 39 year-old continues to play at a high level. He may not be the same player he was a few years ago, but James’ apex was so astronomical that even a slight drop off puts him in rarified air. He’ll always be at the top of the leaderboard in the fan vote as well.

It seems like Jokic can record 25 points, 12 assists and 12 rebounds the moment he gets out of bed. The versatile Denver Nuggets center is a shoe-in for a starting frontcourt spot, and is a fun player to feature in a wide-open All-Star game format. Assuming he stays healthy, he has a chance to start the midseason classic for another 10 years.

The Suns haven’t quite lived up to expectations so far this season, but Durant’s ability to score in bunches remains attractive for fans all over the NBA to marvel at. There’s a chance that he could be knocked down a peg if he suffers another injury, but his elite skill keeps him in the conversation to start.

It’s hard to envision Doncic as anything but a starter, and there’s still a chance he could nab a spot in the top five. The Mavericks superstar will need to guide his team to a surge in the standings for that to happen. Doncic has been fighting through an ankle injury as well, but his place on the roster is not in jeopardy.

It’s also very possible that Curry will have to come of the bench for this team, which is something NBA fans aren’t used to. He’s still playing great in his mid-thirties, but age and attrition have knocked the Golden State Warriors down a peg. Even if he doesn’t start, there’s still a high likelihood that he might finish the All-Star game if it’s close.

After years of being the poster-player for load management, Leonard has largely stayed healthy on his way to a bounce-back campaign. His two-way talent on the offensive and defensive ends of the floor have the Los Angeles Clippers in the middle of a race for a top seed in the Western Conference.

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Even though he’s only a rookie, Holmgren has played well enough to merit All-Star consideration. He’s been a go to shot maker for the Oklahoma City Thunder down the stretch, and has provided a level of rim protection that they were missing a year ago. After missing all of last season, Holmgren has quickly become one of the best big men in the NBA.

It was hard to predict what type of dynamic Towns would add to Minnesota after missing most of last season due to injury. He’s found a way to thrive next to Anthony Edwards and Rudy Gobert, which is something he deserves a lot of credit for. The formula has the Timberwolves at the top of the conference, which is due in large part to Towns’ contributions.

Jokic gets most of the acclaim as a generational passer from the post and rightfully so, but Sabonis is a tremendous playmaker for his size too. His vision and willingness to get teammates involved is a main reason why the Sacramento Kings are going to be in the playoff picture for years to come.

There’s room for two Kings on the Western Conference All-Star team, and Fox is still the engine of the team. His speed and quickness allows him to get into the paint whenever he wants, and his jump shot has improved immensely since he first came into the league. There are a lot of good options to round out the roster, but Fox’s case is as good as anyone else’s.

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