My All-Star Game Selections 2025

Daniel Waddleton

Jan 20, 2025

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With the 2025 All-Star Game starters set to be announced this Thursday, January 23rd, I figured, why not compile my own list of who I believe should make up this year’s 24 All-Stars?

If I’m being completely honest, I’m not entirely sure how the actual All-Star game format works this year, as the Sunday event has been drastically revamped. What I do know is the team selection process remains unchanged: five starters from each conference, two guards and three forwards off the bench, plus two wildcard selections.

To clarify, this is not a prediction of who will be selected. Instead, this is my personal list of the 12 All-Stars in each conference, as if Adam Silver had given me the honor of making the selections myself.

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Starters

Backcourt: Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers

This spot was a decision between the two Cavalier guards, and I ended up with Garland. As far as I'm concerned DG has been the engine driving this 35-6 club. His blend of craft and quickness allows him to live in the paint, consistently getting downhill and creating opportunities for both himself and teammates. He’s averaging 21 points and 6.8 assists per game while possessing the holy 50/40/90 shooting splits. Garland also leads his team in Estimated Plus-Minus (EPM), and ranks sixth in the league in O-LEBRON. The Cavaliers offense thrives with him on the floor, scoring a staggering 126 points per 100 possessions and outscoring opponents by 9.1 points per 100 possessions.

Backcourt: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

It might not match his 2023-24 campaign, but Brunson remains one of the best players in basketball. The leading scorer in New York, Brunson continues to be the little engine that could for the Knicks. Averaging over 26 points per game on 60% true shooting as a below-the-rim small guard is impressive, showcasing his elite footwork, balance, and tough shot making on a nightly basis. There were a few other guards I considered for this spot, but ultimately I went with Brunson.

Frontcourt: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Not many players in this league are as reliable as Jayson Tatum. His elite two-way ability, paired with remarkable durability, makes him one of the NBA’s most valuable assets. Celtics lineups with Tatum on the floor are outscoring opponents by over 11 points per 100 possessions. Ranking third in estimated wins -- behind only the two MVP favorites -- highlights his impact. Additionally, he’s averaging career highs in rebounds and assists, further expanding his game in his age-26 season.

Frontcourt: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks

The Great Freak doesn't need much of a case made for him as a starter, as he continues to dominate as the league’s most unstoppable paint force. Averaging 31.5 points on 60% shooting, along with 12 rebounds and 6 assists per game, his numbers are simply bonkers. While he may not be the same two-way force he was in his younger years, he remains a highly impactful presence on both ends of the floor.

Frontcourt: Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks

We knew KAT wasn’t fully optimized offensively playing the four next to Rudy Gobert, but his production after being traded to New York has exceeded all expectations. Averaging 25.4 points per game on an elite 55/45/84 shooting split, he’s making a strong case for Second Team All-NBA. Ranking fifth in estimated wins, he’s been instrumental in the Knicks rise to second in offensive rating and third in the Eastern Conference standings. While the teams defense has taken a hit since he became the anchor, his 13.8 rebounds per game provide value.

Reserves

Backcourt: Donavan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers

He’s the best player on a team that’s on pace to win 70 games, so this selection shouldn’t come as a surprise. Mitchell has taken a slight step back with his on-ball creation duties to enable his teammates to shine, but he remains one of the league’s most explosive scorers when he's in the zone.

Backcourt: Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks

Lillard had an up-and-down first season in Milwaukee, and as a result, I think many people haven’t realized his bounce back this season. His numbers are up across all major statistical categories compared to last season, and he’s one of only two players averaging 25 points per game while sharing the court with another 25-point scorer (Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Towns). He puts up these numbers despite still being one of the most keyed on on-ball offensive players in the league, reflected by Basketball Index’s "gravity" metric, that places him first.

Frontcourt: Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic

He’s only played 25 games, so I understand if some might disagree with his selection, but almost nobody was playing better basketball when healthy this season than Wagner. The Magic are an incredible 15 points better per 100 possessions with Wagner on the court, and he ranks sixth in the league in EPM. During part of Paolo Banchero's absence, the Magic ripped off a 12-1 stretch, thanks in large part to Wagner’s ability to generate enough offense around a defensive-minded unit. With Wagner set to return well before the All-Star Game, I’m confidently including him on my team.

Frontcourt: Pascal Siakam, Indiana Pacers

Quietly putting together an excellent season for the suddenly surging Pacers, Siakam earned a spot on my Eastern All-Stars. Despite averaging 20PPG on efficient 60% true shooting, what’s impressed me even more this season is his heightened defensive intensity. Known for his defensive prowess during the Raptors 2019 Finals run, Siakam’s defense had taken a backseat in recent years as his offensive responsibilities grew. However, this season he’s appeared to flip the switch defensively, and it’s played a crucial role in the Pacers best defensive stretch of the Haliburton run-and-gun era. The Pacers are 13 points better per 100 possessions defensively with Siakam on the court, posting a stellar 110.3 defensive rating in those minutes. Currently ranked sixth in estimated wins, Siakam’s impact -- coupled with his durability, having played every game this season -- makes him one of the most valuable players in the conference.

Frontcourt: Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers

Again, with this team on pace to win 70 games, it’s only fitting to include multiple players from their roster on my All-Star team. This wasn’t a difficult decision, Mobley has taken a big offensive leap this season to complement his already dominant defensive abilities. Under new head coach Kenny Atkinson, Mobley has been empowered to push the ball off rebounds for transition opportunities and play more two-man game with the guards. The offensive skills he’s flashed in previous seasons are now coming together, as he’s gained strength and confidence. Mobley has been an integral part of this incredible Cavaliers season.

Wild Card: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons

Cunningham has always put up stats, but in the past, it was often inefficient and on struggling teams. This season, everything has changed. The Pistons prioritized floor spacing in the offseason -- something Cunningham has rarely had in his career -- and the impact has been transformative. Averaging 24 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 9.4 assists, Cade is stuffing the stat sheet nightly for a Pistons team with 17 more wins than they had at the 42-game mark last season. His true shooting percentage remains modest at 54.6%, but considering how heavily he’s relied upon to generate offense with limited creation options around him, I'd pay more attention to this stat: The Pistons are 7.8 points better per 100 possessions with him on the floor, and win the minutes he plays for a team that's 21-21 and holds a negative point differential.

Wild Card: Derrick White, Boston Celtics

For my final wildcard spot, it came down to Derrick White and Trae Young -- two completely different types of players. Young puts up bigger numbers and is the better pure basketball player, but White’s scalability, being able to thrive in any role make him incredibly valuable in today’s NBA. Unlike Young, White doesn’t dominate the ball, which limits his counting stats, but he contributes at an elite level in so many other areas. He’s a lights-out three-point shooter, has pick and roll juice, excels as a guard-on-guard defender, and is one of the league's best rim protecting guards. On top of that, he does all the little things like screening, cutting, rebounding.

The clear outlier here is LaMelo Ball, who is putting up some eye-popping stats despite playing for a 10-win team. For my personal All-Stars, I prioritize players moving the needle on competitive teams, which is why I ultimately left him off. That said, I don’t think this is simply a case of "good stats, bad team." LaMelo is an incredibly talented player, and it’s worth noting that his team does win the minutes he’s on the court -- albeit just barely.

I genuinely believe he could thrive in a similar way on a better team, just with a scaled-back usage rate. Hopefully the Hornets can turn things around sooner rather than later, because LaMelo is an incredibly fun player to watch, and he is heading down the deep dark path of good stats bad team guy quickly.

Starters

Backcourt: Shai-Gilgeous Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder

The league leader in EPM, it’s hard to argue that anyone outside of Nikola Jokic is more valuable to their team than SGA. The Thunder’s offense improves by an astounding 13.6 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the court, and he’s only additive to the league’s best defense. The league leader in scoring with 31.6PPG is also one of the smoothest bucket-getters in the sport, making him must-watch TV every night.

Backcourt: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors

With Luka sidelined, the second starting guard spot in the Western Conference became wide open. I opted for Stephen Curry, who remains one of the league’s elite guards despite the Warriors struggles. Realistically, he’s the only thing keeping the Dubs 19th ranked offense afloat, as the team scores an eye popping 17.3 points per 100 possessions more when he’s on the court. Beyond his 23 points per game on 60% true shooting, Curry’s off-ball gravity continues to generate countless opportunities for his teammates -- impactful contributions that don’t always show up in the box score. Enjoy Curry while you can, because while he remains an elite guard, this legend is beginning to move past his prime.

Frontcourt: Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns

When he’s not feuding with common folk like myself on Twitter, Kevin Durant is laying waste to the NBA on offense. Even at 36 years old, Durant remains one of the best scorers in the league, averaging 27.4 points per game on impressive 62.6% true shooting. While the Suns have plenty of roster imbalances that keep them from being a great team, Durant’s stellar play this season earns him a starting spot on my All-Star teams.

Frontcourt: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs

If the Spurs record were a little better, Wemby might be in the MVP conversation. He currently ranks third in the league in EPM, trailing only MVP frontrunners Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Nikola Jokic. The Spurs are 16.1 points better per 100 possessions with him on the court. On what is otherwise an average defensive roster, Wemby anchors them to a 110.2 defensive rating during his minutes. Considering he averages over four blocks a night, it’s no surprise opposing teams take the third-farthest average shot distance from the rim when he’s on the floor, and the closest when he’s off. Wemby is already the best defensive player in basketball, and what’s even scarier is how quickly his offense is refining in just his second season.

Frontcourt: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

There’s not much that needs to be said here. The three-time MVP is averaging 30.4 points, 13.1 rebounds, and 9.9 assists per game on an astounding 64.5% true shooting, while also leading the league hitting 47.1% of his 4.5 three-point attempts per game. His +26.4 on/off per 100 possessions is the highest in the league, and he ranks either first or second (SGA) in virtually every advanced impact metric. Jokic is the best player in the league and an absolute no-brainer to start the All-Star Game.

Reserves

Backcourt: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

Anthony Edwards remains one of the league’s most electrifying players, though his game has looked a bit different this season. With a career-high in three-point attempts and a dip in free throws, he’s transitioned to a more perimeter-oriented style, likely due to the team’s lack of frontcourt spacing. Despite this shift, Edwards hasn’t missed a beat, averaging a career high in points with improved true shooting. On an inconsistent Timberwolves squad, he’s been a bright spot, with the team winning his minutes and being 4.6 points better per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor.

Backcourt: Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks

One of the most aesthetically pleasing players in basketball, Kyrie Irving is once again excelling in what is, if you can believe it, his 15th season. Averaging 24 points per game on 60% true shooting, Kyrie might just be the best offensive second option in the league. The Mavericks have also found success even during Luka Doncic’s extended absence, with the team winning the minutes this season with Irving on the court and Doncic off. It’s been a while since Kyrie appeared in the All-Star Game, and his performance this season warrants a nod.

Frontcourt: Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder

Few players in the league are as scalable as “J-Dub,” who can seamlessly fill whatever role OKC needs him to play throughout a game. He’s averaging 20/5/5, serves as the primary creator when SGA heads to the bench, while also exceling as a catch-and-shoot three point shooter (37%), secondary ball handler, and connective passer in SGA lineups. Williams is an elite on-ball defender against any position, protects the rim as a weakside roamer, and has great hands for steals and deflections. Being the second-best player on a team potentially headed for 70 wins is just the icing on the cake for what should be a no-brainer All-Star selection.

Frontcourt: Jaren Jackson Jr, Memphis Grizzlies

If Wemby didn’t exist, Triple J would be my pick for Defensive Player of the Year. In the past, I’ve been critical of Jackson as a defender despite his incredible rim protection numbers. His tendency to chase highlight blocks often led to unnecessary fouls, and his struggles as a defensive rebounder made it hard to play him at the five. This season, both of those issues have been cleaned up. While his block totals are lower, the trade-off has been invaluable -- he’s on the court more often, avoiding foul trouble, and able to make a greater impact late in games. On the offensive end, Jackson has also taken a leap, averaging a career-high in points and emerging as one of the league’s best isolation players. His two-way contributions have been crucial for the Grizzlies this season.

Frontcourt: Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers

It seems likely that Davis is still dealing with the lingering effects of plantar fasciitis in his foot, as he hasn’t quite recaptured the dominant form he showed during his early-season MVP-caliber stretch. That said, averaging nearly 26 points, 12 rebounds, and 2 blocks per game is far from underwhelming. The Lakers are actually 0.3 points worse defensively when he’s on the court -- a rare occurrence for Davis -- and the eye test suggests some slight slippage on that end. Even so, an 80% version of Davis defensively is still better than the vast majority of bigs in the league.

Wild Card: Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets

The Rockets have been the biggest surprise in the NBA this season, sitting at 28-13 and second in a loaded Western Conference. Ranking fourth in the league in defense, that has become this Houston team’s calling card, and Sengun has only helped that this season. The Rockets are 4.6 points better defensively when he’s on the court, as he’s done an admirable job as a drop big this season. Offensively is Sengun's personal calling card, where he's been the team’s most consistent player, averaging 19.4 points and 5.1 assists a night. Both his offense and defense will face serious tests in his first playoff appearance this spring, but for now, his impact warrants a well-deserved All-Star nod.

Wild Card: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers

I considered several players for this spot, especially the Kings duo, but in the end I went with LeBron, because, well, he’s LeBron. Sure, there’s a bit of nostalgia and the fact that I’d feel terrible leaving the greatest player ever off my list, but it’s not as if he’s completely underserving either. At 40 years old, in his 22nd season, LeBron is still averaging 23.8 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 8.8 assists on 60% true shooting, providing real value on a nightly basis. His basketball IQ remains unmatched, and he still has the physical tools to get wherever he wants on the court. While his defense has been inconsistent and maybe even at times hard to watch this season, he’s still capable of locking in when it matters most. LeBron takes the final wild card slot.