NBA All-Star Game 2015: Ranking the 10 Players We're Most Excited to See

The NBA All-Star break is upon us, and while it may be a break from NBA regular-season action, there is still plenty to be excited for. Twenty-four total players from 17 different teams will meet at Madison Square Garden at 8:30 p.m. ET on Sunday night to show what the best of the NBA has to offer.

The chance to see some of the best players from around the league team up and play against each other is exciting, and each player will have a chance to prove why he was voted by the fans to play in Brooklyn.

The Eastern Conference offers a little less depth than the West this year in terms of team variety, with the squad only representing seven teams overall, while the West has 10 different teams represented. 

Each player selected on this list will have a couple highlights to show examples of why they deserve to be mentioned, along with a brief explanation, after No. 10, as to why they are ranked where they are.

The anticipation for a solid game between the East and West is high, and here are the top 10 players we're most excited to see at the Garden.

10. Kyle Lowry

Kyle Lowry is now entering his third year with the Toronto Raptors and his 11th in the NBA—and he's quite possibly playing better than he has in his entire career. Lowry has been incredible for the Raptors, and he's been vital to their 36-17 record.

Lowry is averaging 18.6 points, 7.2 assists and 1.6 steals a game in the 2014-2015 season, and his vision and quickness have made him a conductor for the Raptors offense this season. His play has definitely earned him his spot in Brooklyn.

Looking at the Tape

Lowry's vision is one of his best attributes, and he shows that at the 58-second mark when he finds Amir Johnson on a half-court lob for a strong fast-break slam. Lowry is lethal on the fast break, and if he gets a chance like this Sunday night, he will be sure to execute.

Lowry's next moment is at 2:29 of the video, where he puts a couple of moves on New Orleans Pelicans forward Dante Cunningham and then finishes with a smooth finger roll for the score. Lowry is quick to the basket, and he shows that here.

9. Damian Lillard

At the No. 9 spot comes the Portland Trailblazers' Damian Lillard. Lillard has been playing well all season, and one could easily make the argument that he deserved a starting spot for the Western Conference squad rather than a reserve spot.

Lillard is averaging 21.5 points per game and shooting 43.3 percent from the field, both career highs. He makes the Trailblazers offense tick, and coming off the bench in Brooklyn will be a helpful offensive boost to the West's play.

Looking at the Tape

For Lillard, there are many plays that stick out, but two from the video above sum up his selection.

At the 1:28 mark, the Trailblazers are down two to the San Antonio Spurs, and the entire arena knows who's going to get the ball. Lillard, who's clutch ability to score when his team needs two points, makes an incredible move and drives to the hoop to tie it up for the Trailblazers.

The other moment is his incredible game-tying three against the Oklahoma Thunder at the 2:26 mark. Lillard quickly gets off his man and open for a three, and as he's been known to do, knocks down the important shot and keeps the Trailblazers in it.

The aggressive and clutch nature of his play on offense has made him vital to the Trailblazers offensive production and will probably make him a big part of the West's offense on Sunday night.

Why No. 9?

Lillard will have plenty of chances to break into an offense that doesn't have two offensive powerhouses in Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James, like Lowry does. 

8. Paul Millsap

A crucial part of the Atlanta Hawks' unbelievable season, Paul Millsap is a great addition to the East's roster. Millsap and the Hawks have been playing way above expectations, and they can thank him for a good part of that success.

Millsap is averaging 16.8 points and 7.9 rebounds per game with the Hawks right now, but he has also been versatile as a power forward. He's currently averaging 1.9 steals per game and shooting 34.6 percent from three, both above-average stats for a power forward.

Looking at the Tape

The first highlight that should get you excited for Millsap is at the 1:29 mark. Millsap steals the ball with surprising speed and is able to pass to Kyle Korver, who finishes with a slam. Millsap shows why he's averaging 1.9 steals here and is a versatile force to be reckoned with on defense.

His second moment begins at the 2:08 mark, where he takes a pass from Korver and puts down an emphatic slam. Millsap was not going to be denied, and that kind of strength and passion is always good for an All-Star Game.

Why No. 8?

Millsap will be an important part of the East's bench, and if his consistency this year translates to the All-Star Game, he may be able to put up some surprising numbers.

7. Marc Gasol

Very few players have been as consistent at their position as Marc Gasol in 2015. He has consistently produced for the Memphis Grizzlies, and without Big Marc, it's unlikely that the Grizzlies would be at 39-14 on the season.

In his seventh year with the Grizzlies, Gasol is averaging 18.3 points per game, shooting 49.1 percent from the field and averaging a solid 8.1 rebounds per game. He has been a solid component of the Grizzlies on both sides of the court and will do the same for the East on Sunday.

Looking at the Tape

The first moment that Gasol seriously impresses is at the 0:25 mark, where he does a somewhat awkward behind-the-back pass to Tony Allen for the score. It may have looked odd, but it was a clever pass that shows how Gasol can do more than score and clean the glass.

The next moment is at the 1:47 mark, where Gasol posts up against his brother Pau Gasol and sinks a nasty fadeaway jumper. Besides the sentimental part of the situation, it was a really impressive shot that shows that when Gasol gets around the rim, he can beat opponents in a number of ways.

Why No. 7?

Gasol has definitely played well enough to be in the All-Star Game, and the reason he'll be exciting to watch is his ability to anchor a team and produce plays through his shooting and rebounding.

Not to mention, he'll be going up against his brother in the game, which will be pretty awesome as well.

6. John Wall

John Wall. He is a prolific passer, an excellent shooter and has a flair for making great plays.

Wall is currently averaging 17.4 points, 10.1 assists, 1.9 steals and shooting 46 percent from the field. He is having one of his best all-around seasons with the Washington Wizards and was an easy choice for the All-Star Game.

Looking at the Tape

Let's look at a couple of John Wall's highlights this season that show why he deserves to be in Brooklyn.

At the 1:24 mark, Wall steals the ball against the New York Knicks and follows it up with the reverse two-handed slam. Wall's flair and propensity for making highlight-reel plays are apparent here, and that kind of play is exactly what people will be looking for this Sunday night.

The other play, at the 1:51 mark, shows why he's averaging over 10 assists per game, with an incredible pass to Jimmy Butler after driving to the hoop. Wall has a nose for the basket, but he also has a knack for getting teammates the ball in good positions.

Wall has had an incredible season thus far, and one can only hope that he will carry his entertaining style of play into and past the All-Star break.

Why No. 6?

Wall is in the starting lineup for the East, and the chance to dish to Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James will be two of the most exciting connections to watch.

5. James Harden

Guarding James Harden is kind of like trying to stop a wave from hitting the beach. It's not going to happen. The NBA's leading scorer has been dominant all season for the Rockets and has been their leader in the race to win the Southwest Division.

Harden is averaging an NBA-best 27.4 points per game while shooting 45.5 percent from the field. He's also putting up 6.8 assists per game, a career high, showing that he's been offensively dominant both via shooting and passing.

Looking at the Tape

Harden's first highlight of note is at 1:47, where he gets past Pablo Prigioni and then steps back from Jason Smith to pull up and sink a nice mid-range shot. Harden can take the ball and turn an ordinary situation into something electric, and we can only hope he does that at the Garden.

The next moment is at the 3:50 mark, in which he shows that he deserves the ball in a last-second situation. Harden gets just enough space to knock down a buzzer-beater to give the Rockets a 113-111 win over the Phoenix Suns. Clutch.

Why No. 5?

Harden will come into Brooklyn and dominate, as he's done all season, and getting do that against some of the best players in the NBA will be exciting to watch.

4. Carmelo Anthony

It's scary to think that Carmelo Anthony has been in the league for 11 seasons. It's scarier to think that in every one of those seasons he's averaged over 20 points per game. Every single season for 14 years. The Knicks may be one of the worst teams in the NBA, but don't let that take away from Melo's performance.

Anthony is averaging 24.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He's been the lone bright spot for the Knicks this season, and considering his performance, he deserves much more than a team with the worst record in the Eastern Conference.

He's earned his spot all the same, though, and despite a lack of a team performance, Melo has continued to shine.

Looking at the Tape

The first moment of this video that shows Melo deserves to be at the Garden is at the 1:19 mark, where he spins past the Miami Heat's Luol Deng and takes Jose Calderon's lob for a quick finish. Melo still has quickness and big-play ability, and Deng learned that the hard way here.

The next is an instinctive pass to Iman Shumpert at the 2:00 mark, in which he puts in a quick no-look pass to Shumpert for a powerful slam. Shumpert may no longer be a member of the Knicks, but this highlight shows that Melo can be a good team player when the opportunity presents itself.

Why No. 4?

This will be Anthony's 11th All-Star appearance, and if anyone lives for this kind of moment, it's him. Look for a couple of big slams and highlight-reel plays from Melo on Sunday.

3. Stephen Curry

Is there a better shooter in the NBA than Stephen Curry? Maybe Kyle Korver. However, no one hits the amount of outside shots and also plays as important of a role as Curry does for the Golden State Warriors.

He is currently averaging 23.6 points per game on 48.1 percent shooting and is shooting 39.9 percent from beyond the arc. Curry is also making a defensive impact as well, leading the NBA with 2.2 steals per game. Curry's having the best all-around season of his career, as proof of his All-Star selection.

Looking at the Tape

At the 1:24 mark, Curry and teammate Klay Thompson do some unorthodox passing and dribbling to get Curry open for a hard-earned three. When Curry is in sync with his teammates, he's near impossible to stop, and Curry and Thompson were on point here.

Next, Curry shows how dangerous he is on the fast break. At the 2:07 mark, Curry gets the ball on the fast break and simply blows by Danny Green and the San Antonio Spurs for a quick score. Watch for Curry on the fast break Sunday night, because he will surely make something happen.

Why No. 3?

Curry's three-point shooting alone will be fun to watch, but the variety of scoring he offers will be electric in the Garden.

2. Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis is in his third year in the NBA, and he has quickly become one of the best players in the Association. At 21 years old, this definitely won't be his last All-Star Game selection. 

Davis is currently averaging 24.5 points per game on 55.1 percent shooting, and he leads the NBA with 2.7 blocks per game. The New Orleans Pelicans star has been vital to his team's competitive season so far, and without him, the Pelicans wouldn't be in the race for the Southwest Division.

Looking at the Tape

At the 0:37 mark, Davis scores a devastating dunk against the Dallas Mavericks on a fast break. Davis is quicker than he looks, and if he gets a chance to break away, the opposing defense better look out.

Next, at the 1:34 mark, Davis sends fellow All-Star James Harden's shot attempt into the seats behind him. Davis can destroy shot attempts all over the court, and we can only hope that he'll block a couple shots on Sunday.

Why No. 2?

Davis has been the best player in the NBA so far this season, and if there wasn't a certain legend playing for the Cleveland Cavaliers, he'd be No. 1 on this list. 

1. LeBron James

LeBron James needs no explanation for his ability nor his validity as to why he should be in the 2015 NBA All-Star Game, but here's an attempt anyways. King James' return to Cleveland has not been everything he may have been hoping for, but he has continued to dominate.

James is currently averaging 25.5 points—on 48.9 percent shooting—and 5.5 rebounds per game. His return to Cleveland has still been prolific, and his return to the All-Star Game is no surprise. 

Looking at the Tape

At the 1:20 mark, LeBron shows that he's more than just the most dominant offensive player, as he dishes a very fluid no-look pass to Kevin Love for a score. LeBron is starting to embrace the fact that he draws defenders off his teammates and has been dishing out passes very efficiently this season.

At the 3:17 mark, James spins twice to get separation from a defender and knocks down a solid fadeaway for a score. LeBron's ability to get off defenders and create space may be his least appreciated trait.

The 2015 All-Star Game ought to be one of the best yet. The class of players is as good as ever, and it will be incredible to see how this group of stars can team up and compete. 

Brooklyn will be alive this Sunday night, and you can guarantee that it will be well worth the watch.

All stats found at Basketball-Reference.com unless otherwise stated.

Evan Reier is a first-year journalism major at the University of Alabama and a member of Bleacher Report's APSM program. Follow Evan on Twitter at @evanreier.