A lot has changed since we last discussed potential rosters for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game in San Francisco, which was just over a month ago.
Injuries have taken some key players out of the mix for the Chase Center. Over the past six years, no player has been named an All-Star with fewer than 29 games played through January, except for New Orleans Pelicans forward Zion Williamson in 2023, who was voted a starter. No reserve has made it with fewer than 19 games missed before the end of January.
This history likely rules out Orlando Magic forward Franz Wagner, who was expected to be a first-time All-Star, but has been sidelined with an oblique strain after 25 games. A bigger question is Dallas Mavericks star Luka Doncic, an All-Star in every season since his rookie year. Doncic has only played 22 games and won’t be re-evaluated for a calf injury until the end of the month.
If Doncic isn’t voted a starter (he was third among Western Conference backcourt players in Thursday’s latest fan voting), he likely won’t make the roster as a reserve, opening up space for another player.
Fan voting returns from Thursday show that LaMelo Ball of the Charlotte Hornets is in a strong position to be voted a starter, leading all Eastern Conference backcourt players. With Ball missing 11 games so far and Charlotte holding a low 8-27 record, his best shot at the All-Star Game is as a starter.
Even though the rosters for the three teams in the All-Star mini-tournament will be drafted by the hosts of TNT’s “Inside the NBA,” here’s how the player pool is selected: two backcourt starters and three frontcourt starters from each conference, plus the same number of reserves and two wild-card selections regardless of position. We’ll also highlight which players might miss out.
Here are my predictions for all 24 spots, including superstar locks, a few first-time selections, and plenty of competition for the final wild cards.
East Starters
Backcourt: Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Mitchell has been an All-Star for the last five seasons and seems certain to start, as the Cavaliers hold the NBA’s best record (32-4). He is second in fan voting and will be a top pick by the media.
Backcourt: LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets
Ball’s situation is more complicated. His chance will depend on the media votes and how many other guards are chosen. If media votes go to Mitchell and Jalen Brunson, Ball might fall behind in player votes, which could impact his starter spot.
Frontcourt: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Antetokounmpo leads all players in fan votes so far and is on track to be a team captain for the fourth time in his career.
Frontcourt: Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Tatum is expected to be a starter for the third year in a row.
Frontcourt: Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
Towns is a likely starter due to the strength of the East’s frontcourt pool. He’s third in fan voting and has more than double the votes of the next highest player, Paolo Banchero, who has missed several games.
East Reserves
Backcourt: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
If Brunson doesn’t start, he will likely be the first reserve picked by Eastern Conference coaches. The competition for guard spots is tough, but Brunson has made a strong case.
Backcourt: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks
Young’s performance has improved in December and January, and his league-leading 12.2 assists per game, along with the Hawks’ run to the NBA Cup semifinals, will likely earn him a spot.
Frontcourt: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics
The Finals MVP might not be a starter, but he should be among the top frontcourt reserves in the East.
Frontcourt: Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
Mobley has been crucial to Cleveland’s success, averaging a career-high 18.9 points per game and playing well on both ends. He’s a near-lock for a frontcourt reserve spot.
Frontcourt: Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers
With Franz Wagner out, Allen has a good chance to make his second All-Star appearance. While not as critical offensively as Mobley, Allen provides strong defense and has improved his efficiency this season.
Wild card: Damian Lillard, Milwaukee Bucks
Lillard has been an All-Star six times and despite a rough patch in 2021-22, his current form and the Bucks’ success should get him through. He’s having a better offensive season this year and the Bucks are in good standing.
Wild card: Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
There are several East guards who could compete for the last spot, but Cunningham is one of the top candidates. Other players like Garland, White, Haliburton, Maxey, and Herro also have strong cases for the final spot, with Herro leading the group in scoring efficiency.
I believe Haliburton has the most overlooked case. He was a starter last year, but he is still being compared to his strong performance in the first half of 2023-24 and falling short. However, Haliburton has some important stats that work in his favor. His best skill, not turning the ball over, often goes unnoticed in the box score. (For example, he’s averaging 2.5 fewer turnovers per game than Cunningham.) Haliburton has also played more minutes than anyone except for the Knicks players, which helps his value in various metrics. If Indiana can move ahead of Milwaukee by the time coaches vote, it could boost Haliburton’s chances.
That said, I’m giving the last spot to Cunningham, who represents the Pistons’ rise into the East’s top nine after they had the worst record last season. Cunningham leads this group in assists per game (9.3, third in the league) and has greatly improved his 3-point shooting. Whether Cunningham makes it this season or not, there will certainly be All-Star appearances in his future.
West Starters
Backcourt: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Gilgeous-Alexander is currently the favorite for MVP. He is leading all Western Conference backcourt players in fan voting and should also top the media votes.
Backcourt: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
With Doncic injured, fan voting is likely to put Curry in the starting spot, especially with home-court support in the Bay Area. He holds a small lead over Doncic right now and is more likely to earn media votes. Anthony Edwards of the Minnesota Timberwolves, expected to finish second in media voting, is a distant fifth in fan voting and probably won’t make it as a starter.
Frontcourt: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Despite not being very interested in All-Star events, Jokic will likely be selected as a team captain. He leads all Western players in fan voting and is just ahead of Tatum for second place overall.
Frontcourt: Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
The competition for the other two Western frontcourt spots will get more interesting. Durant is just ahead of LeBron James by a little over 2,000 votes (out of nearly 2 million each), which could matter depending on how well Victor Wembanyama performs in media voting.
Frontcourt: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
James is ranked third in Western frontcourt fan voting, so he could be at risk of not starting for the first time since 2004, when he was a 19-year-old rookie. Wembanyama is likely to finish ahead of James in media voting, which could put the decision in the hands of players. For now, I expect James to be the third and final starter.
West Reserves
Backcourt: Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Edwards is having the best offensive season of his career after a standout playoff run. He will likely be the first name Western Conference coaches pick for their backcourt selections.
Backcourt: Kyrie Irving, Dallas Mavericks
Irving’s bulging disk back injury could affect his first All-Star appearance with Dallas. He has played 30 games so far, and it’s uncertain whether he will be ready by the time coaches vote. However, I believe Irving’s strong performance, including a career-high 44% shooting from 3-point range, will earn him a spot on the roster, especially with better health than Doncic at this point.
Frontcourt: Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
Whether Wembanyama is voted a starter or not won’t change his chances of making the team. He’s set to make his first All-Star appearance after helping lead San Antonio into the thick of the Western Conference play-in race by improving on his already excellent rookie season.
Frontcourt: Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
With a crowded Western frontcourt, Davis ranks fifth in fan voting. This shows how competitive the group is, as only one other player (Alperen Sengun) is close in votes. Davis is still a clear choice for a reserve spot.
Frontcourt: Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
Coaches will likely reward Memphis, which has the fourth-best point differential in the NBA, by picking Jackson as an All-Star. With Ja Morant missing time due to injury, Jackson is now the obvious choice from the Grizzlies. He has improved his scoring since being chosen an All-Star reserve in 2023, though he’s not on track to repeat his Defensive Player of the Year performance.
Wild card: Alperen Sengun, Houston Rockets
Like Memphis, the Rockets have performed well enough that coaches may feel they need to pick a Houston player as a reserve. Sengun, who leads the team in rebounds and is second in scoring and assists, is the best candidate for his first All-Star appearance.
Wild card: Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
In the last update, I had Devin Booker of the Phoenix Suns in this spot. Since then, Booker has missed five games, and the Suns have dropped to 12th in the West standings. De’Aaron Fox of the Sacramento Kings, another top guard candidate, is on a team tied for 10th, which makes it unlikely coaches will pick him after Mike Brown was fired.
This leaves Williams as the clear and deserving pick for the last spot. With Chet Holmgren out, Williams has been the unquestioned No. 2 player on the top team in the West, ranking second on the Thunder in scoring and assists while also defending multiple positions.
