All-Star starters for both the East and West for the All-Star Game to be played this February 17, 2025 (PH date) have been released. Just to set the record straight, what you will read is completely personal. The views and opinions mentioned by the writer do not reflect the entire Rebanse Media.
How the Stars Were Chosen
According to the Official Report from the NBA.com, here’s how the voting works:
“Fans accounted for 50% of the vote to determine the NBA All-Star Game starters, while current NBA players and a media panel accounted for 25% each.”
With this, it is now clear that it’s not just entirely the fans that will decide who will play in the All-Star Game. Players and Sports Media Outlet affiliated with the NBA also had a vote on who should appear at the Chase Center in San Francisco, California.
The NBA Communications also released a PDF Document on how many votes each position (Frontcourt and Backcourt) for both conferences. Here are the links below:
- Eastern Conference Frontcourt
- Eastern Conference Guards
- Western Conference Frontcourt
- Western Conference Guards
Kings of New York, A Greek God, Boston’s Heart, and The Head of the Cavalry
For East starters, the 2x MVP and a former champion from the Milwaukee Bucks, Giannis “The Greek Freak” Antetokounmpo lead the frontcourt. Joining him is the ½ of Boston’s dynamic duo and also a former champion Jayson Tatum as well as the King of New York, more often referred to as the “Big Bodega Kat”, Karl Anthony-Towns.
For the backcourt, the main star of the number one seed in the East, the Cleveland Cavaliers Donovan “Spida” Mitchell. And the other King of New York, Jalen Brunson.
Surprisingly, LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets didn’t become a starter considering how he was the one who led in all the three All-Star Voting Returns. Also, Evan Mobley who is also from the Cavs seems like a no-brainer for a starter in the East. Another player who I feel like should’ve been a starter is the face of the Detroit Pistons and the former number 1 pick, Cade Cunningham.
To be completely honest with you, the “Big 4” of Cleveland should’ve been all starting for the All-Star Game for the East. Darius Garland, Jarrett Allen, Evan Mobley, and Donavan Mitchell all played phenomenal basketball this season. The Cavs started the season with the second-best start ever in the league which is 15-0. Behind the 24-0 record of the 2015-16 Warriors.
I mean yes, statistically speaking Tatum, KAT, Brunson, and Giannis are just in a whole another stratosphere. What’s even more interesting is that in the PDF shared by NBA Communications, several players who have missed a huge number of games because of injury are still highly voted. Players like Franz Vagner and Paolo Banchero of the Orlando Magic are seen in the East frontcourt.
And then there are those names that are just a head-scratcher on why they are even there like Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers, and Jimmy Butler of the Miami Heat. But what matters the most is that these East starters can put on a great show come All-Star weekend.
Team USA Legends, The Joker, and The Canadian Superstar
For the West frontcourt, it’s led by the 40-year-old legend, a 4x champ, a 4x Finals MVP, and arguably the Greatest Of All Time, LeBron James. For the Center position, a former champion and Finals MVP Nikola Jokic is named a starter, and then the Slim Reaper from the Valley, a 2x champion as well as 2x Finals MVP, Kevin Durant.
For the West backcourt, from the number one seed in the West, the Oklahoma City Thunder, also a front-runner to be the MVP this season, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Lastly, the living legend of the Golden State Warriors, a 4x champ, a finals MV,P and the number 1 player in all-time three-pointers made, Stephen Curry completes the West All-Star starters.
It’s no surprise that LBJ, KD, and Curry all got the starting position considering they represented Team USA at the 2024 Paris Olympics where they ultimately won a gold medal. Then SGA also was a part of the national team for Canada and Jokic was with Serbia where they lost in the Semis against Team USA.
First things first, if Luka Doncic from the Dallas Mavericks hadn’t missed a lot of time because of an injury, he would’ve easily replaced Steph Curry as a starter and there’s no doubt about that. His numbers are way better than Steph as well as the team record of the Mavs is a lot better than the current #11 seed Warriors.
The other obvious snub as a starter is The Alien from France, Victor Wembanyama. Yes, even though he is still in his 2nd year in the league, his numbers have tremendously increased than his rookie year and he is even in the Top 5 MVP ladder this season. A lot of people predicted that Wemby would be a starter in the All-Star Game. But hey, at least he’ll be a solid reserve based on the votes. The Spurs are also on a better record now than last year.
Another surprising starter snub is Anthony Davis from the LA Lakers. AD has statistically proven that he is a medical liability as he has played in 39 out of the 42 games of the Lake Show. His numbers have also been vital in getting a 24-18 record for his squad. I just feel like he could’ve also dethroned either KD or Jokic from being a starter.
A lot of players have been snubbed then there’s also players who have got a lot of votes mainly because the All Star Weekend will be in the Bay Area, more specifically Draymond Green and Andrew Wiggins. In the end, the starters are one hell of a team to beat.
