NBA All-Star Starters 2020-2021

(Ashlee Rezin Garcia/Sun-Times)

Eastern Conference:

Forward: Joel Embiid

(Matt Slocum/AP)

Yes, I know Embiid is a center. But the All-Star game hates centers, so he makes it in as the first forward on the list. Embiid is the MVP frontrunner so far this season for the Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia 76ers. He is having the best year of his career with a boosted efficiency under Head Coach Doc Rivers. He has increased his looks in the paint and has been putting up ridiculous numbers on a nightly basis. He is averaging 29.7 points and 10.8 rebounds a game so far this year. Also, if you remember last year’s All-Star game, Embiid had 22 points and 10 rebounds while looking like the best player on the floor for stretches. He is the easiest pick in the East for an All-Star spot.

Forward: Giannis Antetokounmpo

(USA Today Sports)

The back to back league MVP is an absolute lock to start the All-Star game. Giannis is doing Giannis things again to start the year. After committing to the Bucks long term in the offseason, he has been full speed ahead for Milwaukee. Giannis is averaging over 25 points per game for the 4th straight season, putting up 28.2 per game this year. He is also the reigning Defensive Player of the Year and continues to be a load for other teams. He is currently averaging 1.3 steals and blocks per game. His Bucks currently sit in 3rd in the East at 16-12. He is the most dominant player in basketball when he wants to be and is a no brainer for a starting spot.

Forward: Kevin Durant

(Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

This season, Kevin Durant has redefined what can be done coming off an achilles injury. Usually one of the most devastating in the game, Durant looks in the best shape on his career for Brooklyn. KD has quickly become the number 1 option for the biggest "Big 3" in basketball. He is the Nets’ most important player on both sides of the ball and has the ability to score at will. Brooklyn is 6-5 without Durant this year and have looked brutal defensively in his absence. An argument against Durant could be the amount of games he’s missed. He’s appeared in 19 of Brooklyn’s 30 games so far due to Covid contact tracing. I don’t think this should be held against him. He is following league protocols and is probably the best player in the East when he’s on the court. His 29 PPG are the most he’s averaged in 7 seasons. KD is unstoppable on the court this year and Brooklyn looks the same when he’s out there. He is definitely a starter in the East.

Guard: Bradley Beal

(wizofawes.com)

The guard spot is where it gets dicey in both conferences. For my first pick, I went with Wizards Shooting Guard Bradley Beal. Beal has been the best scorer in basketball so far this year. His Wizards team has been atrocious to start the year, but it can not be his fault. The Wizards have lost almost every game Beal has scored over 40 points in for the past 3 years. This man needs a chiropractor! Beal has lead the league in scoring since the start of the season and currently sits at #1 with 32.8 per game. That career high comes with 34% from deep and 45% from the field. Beal is currently 2nd in usage rate, a stat tracking how often a player is responsible for scoring or assisting on a play, in the league and is the entire offense for Washington. He is a two-time All Star, but this year seems like the appropriate time to give him his first start.

Guard: James Harden

(Adam Hunger/AP)

My hometown Boston fans are gonna hate me for this one. James Harden barely beat out Jaylen Brown and his own teammate Kyrie Irving for the last starting spot. I know Harden had one of the ugliest starts to the season. He dogged his way out of Houston and got his wish to link up with Kyrie and KD in Brooklyn. But like Kevin O’Connor and Bill Simmons said on The Ringer’s Podcast Network, this is not the All-Good Guys team. It’s the All-STAR team, and James Harden has been unreal since arriving in Brooklyn. Harden has completely taken the reigns at point guard for Steve Nash’s offense. He is averaging 24.3 points, 11.8 assists, and 8.4 rebounds per game with Brooklyn. He is playing a more efficient game, shooting the ball much less than he did in Houston and finding his teammates well. Harden has shown himself to be one of the best passers in the league and one of the best pick and roll facilitators ever. He beats out Jaylen Brown because of his lead role on one of the best team’s in the league and the disappointing start to the season for Boston. He beats out Kyrie because I believe he does more for the team than Irving. Call it a bad pick if you want, but James Harden has turned himself into the best point guard in the East.

Western Conference:

Forward: LeBron James

(lasportshub.com)

Yup. Did you expect anything else? The 16-time All-Star will be making another appearance in the starting line-up this year. LeBron has started the All-Star game ALL 16 TIMES he's been there. That’s bonkers. He is a 3-time All-Star Game MVP and is #1 in most career All-Star Game points. He is on a run towards his 5th MVP this year and is an automatic starter in the West. LeBron is averaging 25.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 7.9 assists a game while having his best shooting season since 2013. He is helping to anchor the #1 defense in the league, who just so happen to be the reigning NBA Champions. We all knew LeBron was gonna make it.

Forward: Nikola Jokic

(denverstiffs.com)

The Joker should be in line for his first All-Star Game start of his career. Jokic is putting up MVP like numbers this year for the Nuggets. He is stumbling his way to 27.4 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 8.6 assists per game. He has scored 30 points or more 10 times this year, with 3 of those eclipsing 40, and a masterful 50 point game against the league leading Utah Jazz sprinkled in the mix. If you watched what Jokic did on Tuesday against the Celtics, you probably don’t even have to read this wrap up. He looked like a plump Larry Bird out there. Jokic is quickly becoming the most fun big man to watch in the league and a legit MVP contender. He may be slow, but he’s a walking bucket and one of the best passers in the sport.

Forward: Kawhi Leonard

What it do baaayyybbbeee?? Kawhi, a bit like Giannis, is flying under the radar this season. The Clippers, again like Giannis and the Bucks, flamed out in the playoffs last year, which caused fans to not really care about their regular season. We know they will make the playoffs, but it’s all about what they do there. So, Kawhi has quietly continued being one of the top 5 players in basketball. He is leading the Clippers’ #3 ranked offense with 26.7 PPG. His 6 rebounds and 5 assists per night round off a stat line worthy of an All-Star start. His 39% from deep is the best he has shot from 3 in 5 seasons. The Clippers have looked like a more cohesive team under new Head Coach Tyronn Lue and Kawhi has been their best player. Leonard is the lock no one is thinking about and honestly, he probably prefers it that way. Maybe he can get back to back All-Star Game MVPs.

Guard: Stephen Curry

(Jeff Chiu/AP)

Steph Curry has returned to MVP form so far this year. Steph is putting up almost identical numbers to his unanimous MVP season of 2015-16 and has carried the Warriors on his back this season. In the absence of Klay Thompson, Curry has put on a show scoring the ball. He had a 57 point performance against the Mavericks and a 62 point performance against the Trailblazers in the second game of the season. He has scored 30 or more 14 times so far this year and 6 times in the last 10 games. He is the sole reason the Warriors are likely a playoff team this year and has shown why he was considered one of the best players of all-time at his peak. I believe he is still at that elite level, but a little reminding has been fun to watch. Steph is a lock for the first guard spot in the West.

Guard: Damian Lillard

(Will Newton/Getty Images)

This last guard spot is up to two men, Damian Lillard and Luka Doncic. If I’m being honest, I would bet Luka gets it. But I really think Dame deserves it. Lillard has been a rock for the badly depleted Portland TrailBlazers. He is averaging 30 points a game for the second straight year while shooting 38% from deep on 11 attempts a game. Lillard has surprisingly never started the All-Star game despite being selected 5 times. I give him the nod over Luka because he is scoring slightly more and the Dallas Mavericks have been rough this year. Luka has played in all but one game and Dallas is still only 13-15. Portland has arguably been more beat up then Dallas and currently sit in 4th at 18-10. Lillard has played in 27 of those 28 games. I think Dame is leading his team to wins better than anyone in the league and deserves to be the final starter in the West.