Making a case for 8 first-time All-Stars
Look no further than recent All-Star games to find the emergence of the NBA’s up-and-coming talent.
In each of the last 10 midseason showcases, no fewer than four new players have made their All-Star Game debuts, with a staggering 10 making their first appearance in the 2020 edition.
Before starters are announced Thursday for the 2024 All-Star Game in Indianapolis, here are eight NBA talents deserving of a maiden spot in the exhibition showcase.
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
2023-24 season averages:
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 44.9 | 37.9 | 86 | 3.7 | 6.7 | 25.8 |
The Sixers have lucked into another star guard. Maxey has done an exceptional job taking over for James Harden as Philadelphia’s primary perimeter ball-handler and offensive organizer, making career-high jumps in points and assists per game. He’s also limited his turnovers, only averaging 1.6 per game while playing a league-leading 37.7 minutes per contest – a sign that new coach Nick Nurse trusts his 23-year-old point guard.
Following Harden’s departure to the Los Angeles Clippers, the team has a better balance of veteran depth and shooting – while also giving Maxey a stronger chance of reaching his true potential. With a 29-13 record over the first half of the season, Maxey has a plus-minus of 10.5 per 100 possessions – proving his worth as Philadelphia’s second-best player. He finished fifth in the final fan returns for Eastern Conference guards, the highest for a player who hasn’t made the event this year. This is a great chance for Maxey to reach the same level as some of his peers.
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
2023-24 season averages:
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 47.5 | 42.3 | 83.2 | 3.9 | 6.5 | 26.6 |
Brunson has been a revelation for the Knicks ever since they pried him away from the Dallas Mavericks. The 27-year-old hasn’t just been the squad’s best scorer and playmaker but also a remarkably composed veteran who knows how to turn it up when it matters. Take, for example, his career-best 50-point torching of the Phoenix Suns – with Kevin Durant, Devin Booker, and Bradley Beal all healthy – on the road in December.
Even with all the point guard competition in the East this season – Damian Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton, and Trae Young might be locks based solely on fan voting returns – Brunson is worthy of an inaugural selection. But it might take some late convincing of NBA head coaches for him to make it to Indianapolis.
Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
2023-24 season averages:
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | AST | REB | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 43 | 54.4 | 38.2 | 78.8 | 2.8 | 7.2 | 17.1 |
Holmgren is on track to join some esteemed company. If he were selected to the All-Star team, he’d be the third rookie this century to accomplish the feat, joining Yao Ming and Blake Griffin. What separates Chet from the rest is his team’s dominance halfway through the season, ranking second in the Western Conference with a 29-13 record.
While Holmgren’s counting stats don’t pop off the page, his presence on the court is extremely important to OKC’s success. He has a plus-minus of 9.4 per 100 possessions. Outside of his suburb shooting percentage, his calling card has been his defense – he averages 2.6 blocks and a 4% block rate, ranking in the 90th percentile, according to Cleaning the Glass.
Scottie Barnes, Toronto Raptors
2023-24 season averages:
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 48 | 36.7 | 75.3 | 8.4 | 5.7 | 20.2 |
Barnes’ stalled progression between Years 1 and 2 seemingly worried Raptors fans, but there’s nothing to fear regarding his third year so far. The 22-year-old has emerged as a true star in the making. While Darko Rajakovic’s abrupt claim that Barnes would be “the face of the league” might’ve been a little exaggerated amid his memorable officiating rant, the Raptors head coach was likely correct that the former Rookie of the Year is destined for some level of stardom. Now, with Pascal Siakam and OG Anunoby both gone, Barnes has become Toronto’s centerpiece – and for good reason.
Though he’s not yet a consistent threat from deep, his drastic improvement as a 3-point shooter has molded him into a much grander threat around the perimeter. He’s nearly doubled his ratio of threes from last season, going from 16% in 2022-23 to 29.7% this year. And while Barnes still has a half-season to go, here’s the list of other players in NBA history who have averaged at least 20 points, eight rebounds, five assists, and a steal and a block apiece in their age-22 seasons: Giannis Antetokounmpo and Luka Doncic. That’s it. That’s the list. And yes, they each made the All-Star Game that year.
Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic
2023-24 season averages:
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | AST | REB | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 44 | 45 | 35.4 | 69.7 | 4.8 | 7 | 22.5 |
The Magic haven’t had an All-Star since Nikola Vucevic. New star Banchero has the best shot to become their next player selected for the event. The former No. 1 pick has cracked the franchise’s single-season points per game list – coming in at 10th, joining the likes of Tracy McGrady, Shaquille O’Neal, and Dwight Howard. Banchero also became the youngest Magic player since Shaq to score 40 points in a game with a 42-point showing. He then recorded 43 points in a game a month later.
What might hold Banchero back is the Magic’s struggles since mid-December – they’ve gone 7-14 since their 16-7 start. Orlando has dropped from the top six of the Eastern Conference into the play-in race.
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
2023-24 season averages:
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 46.4 | 29.9 | 80.7 | 10 | 2.9 | 20.3 |
No, the 8-35 Spurs aren’t exactly striking fear into anyone this season, but Wembanyama has still been a marvel to watch in his debut campaign. Averaging a 20-point double-double through 37 games, the French star already looks well ahead of schedule in terms of getting his feet wet in the Association. Sure, it helps to be 7-foot-4, but his defensive instincts have been as solid as advertised; his 3.2 blocks per game lead the league.
First-years don’t normally become All-Stars. Since 2000, only Yao (2002-03) and Griffin (2010-11) – both No. 1 selections – have accomplished the feat. Fellow first overall picks LeBron James, Anthony Davis, Kyrie Irving, Zion Williamson, and Anthony Edwards – plus a slew of other touted lottery selections like Doncic and Lillard – were all overlooked. Still, Wembanyama simply feels like he’s in rarefied air of his own. For instance, only three other players registered at least 19 points, 10 rebounds, and three blocks per game during their rookie season: Alonzo Mourning, O’Neal, and David Robinson. The competition out West is fierce, but Wembanyama warrants strong consideration.
Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
2023-24 season averages:
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | AST | REB | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 53.8 | 28.2 | 71.8 | 5 | 9.2 | 22 |
A major driver of the Rockets’ turnaround this campaign, Sengun looks like a star in the making. He leads the team in scoring and rebounding in his third season. Surrounding the 21-year-old with stout defenders and overall better players has allowed him to blossom into a Nikola Jokic-type big man – dictating the offense and the team’s overall direction. He’s one of five players to average at least 22 points, nine rebounds, and five assists – Jokic, Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and Domantas Sabonis are the others.
Having a steady lineup has bolstered Sengun’s growth and helped Houston move past its rebuilding days. The NBA’s second-most used lineup of Sengun, Fred VanVleet, Dillon Brooks, Jalen Green, and Jabari Smith holds a plus-minus of 3.8 in over 500 minutes played – including an impressive 109.5 defensive rating. While the Rockets are on the outside looking in from play-in contention at the moment, they’ve come close to matching last season’s win total (22) this campaign (20) with 40 games left. Even with the intense competition among Western Conference frontcourt players, Sengun has proven worthy of a potential All-Star nod.
Derrick White, Boston Celtics
2023-24 season averages:
| GP | FG% | 3PT% | FT% | REB | AST | PTS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 | 46.4 | 40.4 | 89.6 | 4.1 | 4.8 | 16 |
On both sides of the ball, you can make the argument that no one has been more pivotal to the Celtics’ success this year than White, which is a zany proposition for a team with Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum. But White has become instrumental in Boston’s dominance over the rest of the East thus far; he’s been one of its most reliable 3-point threats, is flirting with 50-40-90 shooting splits, and has been shutting down opponents defensively. He’s the only guard in the entire league averaging more than a block per game (depending on how you label the 6-foot-7 Barnes).
A quick glance at Boston’s on-off numbers tells you all you need to know; the Celtics’ net rating drops by 8.6 points when White sits, the largest difference of anybody in the Celtics’ extended rotation. With Boston sitting comfortably atop the NBA, White merits an inclusion in February’s festivities.
