Every year the players, fans, and the NBA pick their All Star players to play in the All Star game. But today I’m gonna be picking the All Stars for the 2nd half of the season. Now the criteria for this team is, has to have played in the first half of the season for a decent amount of games. So guys like Curry, and Zion are not qualified. This list will be compiled by guys who weren’t in the All Star game and had a breakout 2nd half of the season. (Stats will be from 2nd half)
PG: De’Aaron Fox
(23.4 PPG, 5.8 APG, 3.3 RPG, 50%FG, 31% 3PT) De’Aaron had an outstanding 2nd half of the season but overall had a great complete season. Fox had a big impact in why the Kings have a chance at the 8 seed in the bubble. Fox is a future All Star but he got my vote for being on the 2nd half All Stars.
SG: Bradley Beal
(36.5 PPG, 5.6 APG, 3.5 RPG, 46% FG, 45% 3PT) Bradley Beal was an initial All Star snub but you can’t deny him being on the 2nd half All Star team. Beal is one of the league’s premier scorers being 2nd in the league in PPG behind James Harden. Beal has carried the Wizards to a 24-40 record without John Wall, this is impressive for his 2nd best player is Davis Bertans.
SF: Zach LaVine
(27.6 PPG, 5.2 APG, 4.6 RPG, 46% FG, 33% 3PT) Yet again another player that had the statline to be in the actual All Star game but didn’t make the cut. Zach is part of an up and coming Bulls team and was one of many breakout stars this season. Zach is a 3 tool offensive player, he can shoot, pass, finish at the rim. Big Zach LaVine fan and I’m excited to see his career takeoff over the years.
PF: Nikola Vucevic
(21.8 PPG, 3.8 APG, 12.0 RPG, 52% FG, 24% 3PT) Nikola has always been an under the radar guy and always overshadowed by Jokic, Embiid, and KAT. Nikola was an 2018-2019 All Star with worse numbers then this season. And also a key reason the Magic is in the playoffs. Nikola is gonna be going into his age 30 season and continues to get better and better.
C: Deandre Ayton
(20.0 PPG, 12.0 RPG, 1.0 APG, 2.0 BPG, 58% FG) Ayton has been very underlooked in his two NBA seasons. Ayton, Booker, and Oubre are creating a good culture in Phoenix and are going in the right direction. Look at those numbers above you and tell me why nobody is talking about Deandre Ayton, future All Star in his own right.
Reserves:
Collin Sexton
(25.5 PPG, 4.2 APG, 2.9 RPG, 53% FG, 43% 3PT) Young Bull as he’s called is one of the most non talked about players who average over 20 PPG. Collin in Cleveland is 100% going in the right direction Kevin Porter Jr, Darius Garland, and a top 3 pick in the upcoming 2020 Draft. Cleveland and Collin are gonna be very exciting to watch and the NBA needs to be ready.
Jrue Holiday
(21.1 PPG, 8.6 APG, 5.8 RPG, 51% FG, 40% 3PT) On top of those pretty insane stats above you, Jrue is a lockdown defender and guard the best of them. Jrue is one of the best PG’s currently because he can lock anyone down and score 25+ whenever you need him to. Pelicans are gonna be very scary next year.
CJ McCollum
(28.8 PPG, 7.3 APG, 4.2 RPG, 48% FG, 37% 3PT) For some reason the Blazers sort of fell off the face of the earth for the first half of the season. CJ along with Melo have helped Dame to turn the Blazers into playoff contenders in the bubble. CJ is one of the best sidekicks in the league and him and Dame next season will turn it up. CJ is a stud and always will be a stud.
John Collins
(24.2 PPG, 10.0 RPG, 1.5 BPG, 61% FG, 53% 3PT) There isn’t a lot of good for the Hawks besides Trae Young and John Collins. Collins is very dominant when he gets into a groove and is a building piece for the Hawks for the foreseeable future. Just like Sexton, Collins has very good stats to not be talked about and it’s a shame.
Christian Wood
(24.0 PPG, 9.6 RPG, 1.9 APG, 57% FG, 39% 3PT) Now Wood was the most improved from the first half on this list. Wood went from 11 PPG to 24 PPG and now he’s gonna be a marquee free agent because of it. With injuries to Blake Griffin and the trade that sent Andre Drummond to Cleveland, it opened a lot of opportunities for Wood and he shined when given the opportunity. Wood is gonna be a star for whatever team picks him up.
TheDyspatch 