The 2022 NBA All Star game is just a month away so it’s time for this writer to once again nominate his All Star selections. Today we’re looking at the Western Conference. For the Eastern Conference selections, click here.
Whilst the East was reasonably straight forward, the Western Conference – still the deeper of the two – provided some tough decisions and a few omissions that may prove controversial.
The Locks
LeBron James
Los Angeles Lakers
Despite the Lakers well documented struggles, LeBron James just keeps on producing. With Anthony Davis injured, James has started playing predominantly as a centre. As per usual, he makes it work. He’s taking more shots than he has since the 2008 season, when he won his lone scoring title, pouring in an even 29 points per contest this season. Add in his usual high production (7.7 boards, 6.3 assists, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks) and you have an 18th All Star appearance for LBJ. Remember the old phrase ‘Father Time remains undefeated’? Just like fellow GOAT nominees Michael Jordan and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, James is taking him to a 15th round.
Steph Curry
Golden State Warriors
Should Golden State take out the NBA Championship this season, surely there has to be a 30 for 30 about it? Working title: Lord of the Ring: Return of the King (DM me with the invoice ESPN).
On the court, Curry is having perhaps the worst shooting season of his storied professional career, his 41.6% from the floor and 37.6% from deep by far career lows. That said, his sheer gravity drives the Warriors’ offense. The threat of a Curry jump shot is perhaps the most fearsome sight for an NBA defense. Want evidence? As per Cleaning the Glass (who don’t account for garbage time), Golden State are 18.9 points per 100 possessions better off with Steph on the floor, despite his (relatively) poor shooting. That is an insane number.
Nikola Jokic
Denver Nuggets
For all of the early season attention that went to Curry and Kevin Durant over the MVP award, the top two should really be Giannis Antetokounmpo and Jokic – for this writer, Jokic holds a most slender advantage. Firstly, the counting stats: 26.1 points (57/36/79 shooting splits), 11 rebounds, 7.6 assists, 1.4 steals and .8 blocks. Secondly, here’s the list of advanced stats that Jokic leads the NBA in:
- PER (33.2)
- Offensive Win Shares (5.8)
- Total Win Shares (8.3)
- Win Shares/48 minutes (.299)
- Box +/- (14.2 and lapping the field)
- Offensive Box +/- (9.6)
- Value over Replacement Player (5.4)
Oh, he’s also in the top five in:
- Defensive Rebounding percentage
- Total Rebounding percentage
- Assist Percentage
- Defensive Win Shares
The fact that he’s doing it without Denver’s second and third best players is just further testament to how immense the giant Serbian has been this season.
Ja Morant
Memphis Grizzlies
Morant had a breakout regular season last campaign. Then he had a breakout playoff performance. Now, he’s broken out further this season. The man has had more breakouts than a greasy high school kid. This seasons breakout sees Ja enter the realm of super stardom. He’s elevated his scoring a full 6+ points a game to 25.3 alongside six rebounds, 6.9 assists and 1.3 steals. His improved deep shooting (35% – imagine if he ever gets that up to the 40% range) and the cinder block screens of Steven Adams have opened up driving lanes, where his ridiculous athleticism allows him to finish plays that others wouldn’t contemplate. In transition, he remains a jet:
The Probables
Devin Booker
Phoenix Suns
Despite his generally being considered a three point marksman, it’s only this season that Booker has truly developed that part of his game, his 38.5% success rate a full 4.5% above his number from last season. As such Booker is now a genuine three-level threat, now. He also seems to be playing with a calm and confidence (unless confronted by a man in a dinosaur costume) that comes from last season’s extended playoff run. Still only 25 years old, Booker makes his third All-Star appearance.
Rudy Gobert
Utah Jazz
If there was ever any doubt as to who Utah’s most important player is, it’s come in the Jazz’s recent poor run – including losses to Detroit, Indiana Houston and the Lakers – with Gobert sidelined. For three of the past four years, Gobert has been named the Defensive Player of the Year. Without him on the floor, the Jazz may as well be made of smoke of defense, such is their defensive solidity. From an individual standpoint, the Frenchman is averaging 16 points and a league leading 15.1 rebounds whilst shooting (again, a league leading) 70.7% from the field – all are career highs.
Donovan Mitchell
Utah Jazz
Gobert may be the man that makes the Jazz system tick, but the player that gives the Jazz’s whirring offensive system a fail-safe is Mitchell. Putting up 25.5 points, 5.2 assists and a career high 1.6 steals, Mitchell’s ability to break down practically any player off the dribble is Utah’s not so secret weapon. On a team that isn’t as egalitarian as the Jazz, Mitchell could challenge for a scoring title. He and Gobert will make their third consecutive All-Star appearances.
Draymond Green
Golden State Warriors
Draymond Green will never make an All-Star game based on box score contributions, though he does make contributions across the board. Despite the fact that he rarely shoots, his incisive passing and mind-meld with Steph Curry make him a vital cog to the Warriors’ offense. Where he makes his bones, though, is defense. Green does everything for the Warriors at that end of the floor: guard bigs, switch onto the perimeter, play the passing lanes, protect the bucket. Most importantly, he combines his best basketball ability – a genius level basketball IQ – with his greatest physical gift – a mouth that literally never stops – to orchestrate Golden State’s league leading defense.
The Remainders
Luka Doncic
Dallas Mavericks
For the first time since his rookie campaign, Luka Doncic isn’t a walk-up start for the All Star game. The Mavs struggled mightily in the early stages of the season under new coach and team legend Jason Kidd. Luka has stepped it up of late as Dallas have finally found their groove, taking advantage of depleted Nuggets and Clippers sides to leap frog them into 5th in the conference. For what it’s worth, Luka’s counting stats have stayed consistent, though his efficiency has plummeted this season.
Chris Paul
Phoenix Suns
Statistically speaking, a difficult decision. For the sake of full disclosure, Paul was almost left out for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Ultimately Phoenix’s far, far superior team success – which Paul is still at the centre of – won the day. Paul is tied with former teammate James Harden for the league lead in assists and the six times steals champ still swipes the ball twice a game. Moreover, he’s the straw that stirs the drink in Phoenix. Deandre Ayton is a wonderful talent, but Paul makes his life easy with surgically precise pick and roll play. He’s single highhandedly revived the careers of JaVale McGee and Bismack Biyombo this season.
Karl-Anthony Towns
Minnesota Timberwolves
As per usual, Towns has been outstanding offensively with 24.3 points on splendid 52/40/81 shooting splits. He also pours in 9.2 boards, and just over a steal and a block per game. He averages 3.7 assists, though is still prone to some insanely poor passing decisions. Where Towns has improved is on the defensive end, where he’s…not quite good (let’s not go crazy, here) but not a tire fire, either. With the Wolves a pleasant surprise at 23-23, Towns should return to the All-Star game.
Paul George
Los Angeles Clippers
With Kawhi Leonard out, PG has taken on a large a load as he ever has. Before inuring his elbow just before Christmas, he has the Clippers in 5th place in the West – they’ve dropped to 9th without him. His efficiency is down across the board, but 24.7 points, 7.1 boards, 5.5 assists and a pair of steals per game are All-Star numbers in any language.
The Apologies
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Oklahoma City Thunder
It’s difficult to hold the Thunder’s deplorable 14-33 record against Gilgeous-Alexander, given it’s probably better than many expected of this anemic roster. But, hold it against him we must. SGA’s individual numbers are worthy of All-Star consideration, though they’re not enough to reward the worst team in basketball with an All-Star. Having said that, should PG be unable to suit up, the SGA will get his first All-Star nod.
Anthony Edwards
Minnesota Timberwolves
A fantastic second season for Edwards, who might count himself an unlucky omission. His time will come.
Dejounte Murray
San Antonio Spurs
On individual performance alone, Murray might deserve his first All-Star berth, but in a field as competitive as this, the Spurs’ poor record sees him miss out.
Anthony Davis
Los Angeles Lakers
A tough cut. Despite his Lakers much documented struggles, Davis would have made this All-Star roster had he not missed 20 of the Lakers 47 games. For the first time since his rookie year, Davis misses out.
Damian Lillard
Portland Trailblazers
A slow start, injuries and a team that looks ready to implode at any moment see Lillard miss All-Star selection for the first time since 2017.
This article also appears at leading independent media site FOOTYOLOGY.
