We have just passed the 25% mark of the regular season. As to be expected, there have been some teams and some players that have exceeded their expectations and have their eyes on playoff basketball and personal success, like the All-Star acknowledgement. However, the other side of that coin are the disappointments, falling short as a team or a player regressing from the highs of a previous season.

Below, we will list who we the players at the top of the tree when it comes to deciding the All-Star positions, and explain how and why they found themselves getting the nod.

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EASTERN CONFERENCE STARTERS

G – Damian Lillard (WASHINGTON WIZARDS)

Dame-Time! I think the Wizards can make it out of the East if all goes well, as I really like the roster and how it fits together. What binds the team however is Damian Lillard, who if it wasn’t for Steph Curry, would get a lot more recognition as an absolutely incredible clutch shooter and MVP-calibre player. This season he is crushing it, scoring 36 a game on great efficiency. He’s a killer.

G – Kyrie Irving (DETROIT PISTONS)

Uncle Drew is wilin’ out on the NSL, as Kyrie is showing us just how special of an offensive talent he really is (when his ridiculous thoughts and rituals aren’t overshadowing). The Pistons fall apart when he doesn’t play, going to show just how crucial he is to the contending team. He is averaging almost 38 points per game and is a genuine MVP candidate. He’s scored 50 twice this season already.

F – Luka Doncic (CHARLOTTE HORNETS)

The Wunderkind himself, Luka Doncic. Is he still a teenager? Either way, I am certain he can’t legally drink in the USA yet but that doesn’t stop him from being a transcendent Euro talent. He has the size and ability of a LeBron James without the brawn and athleticism. Luka is incredibly smart, skilled and is obsessed with winning. The Hornets need his 33-7-9 every single night in their pursuit of a title.

F – LeBron James (PHILADELPHIA 76ERS)

One of the greatest to ever do it, the King has taken the 76ers from absolute mediocrity to title contention and it just adds another accolade to his elite legend. Playing point guard for the 76ers, he causes nightmare matchups every game and controls the game with ease. 26 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists underlies just how impactful he is for his team, with and without the ball.

C – Joel Embiid (INDIANA PACERS)

I have gushed about my namesake in multiple media pieces this season. He deserves all the fuss as he has continued to push and progress to an MVP-level when plenty doubted his drive and focus. Embiid is the closest thing we have to a hybrid of an elite old-school big man and the new-age ‘unicorns’. Jo-Jo nears the top in points, rebounds and blocks. He mixes guile and skill and intelligence with size and strength and overwhelming post-moves. He’s incredible.

BENCH:

Nikola Vucevic (NEW YORK KNICKS)

Trae Young (ORLANDO MAGIC)

Devin Booker (WASHINGTON WIZARDS)

Anthony Davis (CHICAGO BULLS)

D’Angelo Russell (BROOKLYN NETS)

Paul George (TORONTO RAPTORS)

DeAaron Fox (NEW YORK KNICKS)

WESTERN CONFERENCE STARTERS

G – Stephen Curry (DENVER NUGGETS)

Has there been a more impressive player than Curry? Steph ushered in the new era in the NSL, where short, quick, offensively-minded rule the court. There’s no doubting he is the greatest shooter there ever was, but it’s been validated this season. Check out these numbers: 42.9 points per game, 6.5 threes and 9.2 assists. There isn’t a player in the NSL who is responsible for more points than Steph Curry.

G – James Harden (PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS)

Harden revitalised his image last season, leading his Portland team to an NSL Championship. He hasn’t rested on his laurels, as the Blazers have filled the tank with jet-fuel and are playing some terrific basketball. Harden, in around 30 minutes a game, is still putting up elite scoring and assist numbers and is one of the most dynamic players we have in the NSL.

F – Kevin Durant (DALLAS MAVERICKS)

He could be the smoothest scorer of all time when it is said and done, and it is a joy to have him back playing basketball again after such a scary injury. The Slim Reaper hasn’t missed a beat, as he carries the Mavericks to win after win. He scores 37 a game at a God-mode clip and has positive contributions in every statistical category. Love him.

F – Kawhi Leonard (PORTLAND TRAILBLAZERS)

The Kawhi-et achiever on the Portland team, but the defensive savant has been much more willing and impactful on the offensive end this season, scoring 28 points per game and grabbing five boards and dishing four assists in just 30 minutes of action each night. He rips away almost two steals per game and is like clockwork with his performances, never playing a bad game.

C -Giannis Antetokounmpo (LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS)

The greatest physical specimen we have in the game today, Giannis is a basketball cheat-code and an Adonis of a man. He is a unicorn on performance enhancing drugs and there is not a player who can match him for versatility, size and power on the planet. He continues to add tools to his repertoire, but all you need to know is this: He scores almost 30 points a game in the paint. So much poster carnage.

BENCH:

Karl-Anthony Towns (SAN ANTONIO SPURS)

Jimmy Butler (SAN ANTONIO SPURS)

Donovan Mitchell (NEW ORLEANS PELICANS)

Ja Morant (NEW ORLEANS PELICANS)

Nikola Jokic (HOUSTON ROCKETS)

Zach Lavine (GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS)

Jaylen Brown (MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES)



Congratulations, 2021 NSL All-Stars.