Four Sixers Named to All-Star Ballot: Any Future All-Stars in the Bunch?

The ballots for the 2011 NBA All-Star Game were released the other day and four 76ers have made the ballot. Point guard Jrue Holiday is on the ballot along with forwards Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young and Elton Brand.

The chances do not look particularly good for any of these guys to make the All-Star Game this year, but let's not rule out someone in the bunch becoming an All-Star one day.

Here is a breakdown of the chances for these four to make a trip to the All-Star Game in the future.

Elton Brand

Lisa Blumenfeld/Getty Images

HOUSTON - FEBRUARY 18: Elton Brand #42 of the West Team drives on LeBron James #23 of the East at the 2006 NBA All-Star Game during NBA All-Star Weekend at the Toyota Center on February 19, 2006 in Houston, Texas. The East defeated the West 122-120. NOTE

Let's start with Elton Brand. Brand is the only Sixer on the ballot with All-Star credentials. He is having somewhat of a resurgent season but is he All-Star worthy? Probably not.

But it is interesting to consider. Who is to say that a talented Eastern Conference power forward such as Amar'e Stoudemire or Chris Bosh does not get injured, maybe opening up a window for Elton Brand. He is currently averaging 15.9 points per game and 7.8 rebounds.

Those are not exactly All-Star caliber numbers, but they are steady indeed and they are serviceable for the Sixers.

Congratulations to Elton Brand on making the ballot, but I do not expect to see him making any more All-Star teams.

Thaddeus Young

Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 27: Evan Turner #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers in action during the game against the Miami Heat at the Wells Fargo Center on October 27, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, b

Following a player with All-Star experience, let's mix it up and go with a player getting his first ballot nod. Thaddeus Young, who played a very stellar game last night, is coming off the bench for first-year Sixers coach Doug Collins, but that did not stop him from making the All-Star ballot.

Young is currently averaging 11.4 points per game and 4.2 rebounds. I must say that out of admiration I have given Thad a write-in vote or two in the past, but now we can simply click on his name (or punch out the little hole if you vote with the paper ballot).

It's safe to say that it will be a long shot for Young to make the team this season, but do not count him out in the future. He has not developed into a star yet, but his performance last night against Milwaukee highlighted a lot of what he can do.

It would not shock me to see Thaddeus Young donning an All-Star jersey down the road.

Jrue Holiday

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

DALLAS - NOVEMBER 30: Guard Jrue Holiday #11 of the Philadelphia 76ers on November 30, 2009 at American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is con

That's right folks. Second-year point guard Jrue Holiday has made the All-Star ballot in only his second season, which is kind of surprising considering that he was not even selected for the rookie team last season. Regardless, Holiday is on the ballot.

Holiday has not been great this year, but his game seems to be coming around. He is averaging a stellar 13.9 points per game and 7.2 assists. Those numbers are clearly ascending as he has looked much more comfortable as of late.

Collins stated that he expects Jrue Holiday to become a top-five point guard in this league, which will guarantee him an eventual All-Star nod.

Expect to see Jrue Holiday playing in the Rookie-Sophomore Game this season, but he will certainly don an All-Star uniform one day.

Even though he plays in a conference with point guards like Brandon Jennings, Derrick Rose, John Wall and Rajon Rondo, I expect Jrue Holiday to make an All-Star team before all is said and done.

Andre Iguodala

Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

HOUSTON - FEBRUARY 18: Andre Iguodala #9 of the Philadelphia 76ers goes up for a dunk in the Sprite Rising Stars Slam Dunk competition during NBA All-Star Weekend at the Toyota Center on February 18, 2006 in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly

Will his All-Star legacy be only his MVP performance in the Rookie-Sophomore Game and his incredible from-behind-the-backboard dunk off the assist from Allen Iverson?

I know.

His chances of making an All-Star team this year are about as good as his chances of finishing the season in Philadelphia.

However, coming into the season, he would definitely have been the consensus pick if you had to pick a Sixer for the squad (but this is not the MLB). Anyway, he is struggling to get on the court and he's struggling when he's on the court.

Regardless of his play this year, he is clearly a talented player. You do not make teams like Team USA without being regarded as very talented. Iguodala has the skills to be an All-Star one day, but I'm not too sure if that will ever happen.

He could easily be a career "Richard Jefferson type"; a player who is close to All-Star caliber but did not quite take advantage of his opportunities.

Honestly, I would not be surprised to never see him make an All-Star team, but I would not be surprised if he did. Perhaps if he were a No. 2 option on a really good team, he could clean up and make a push for an All-Star team, but that is obviously not the case right now.

Hey, What About Lou?

Drew Hallowell/Getty Images

PHILADELPHIA - OCTOBER 27: Lou Williams #23 of the Philadelphia 76ers in action during the game against the Miami Heat at the Wells Fargo Center on October 27, 2010 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that,

I know he comes off the bench, but so does Thaddeus Young and his numbers are as good or better than any of the four who made the ballot. What about Lou Williams? Lou is averaging 13.5 points per game for the Sixers and has had a couple of really nice performances coupled with some really bad ones.

I'm not saying that Lou has a chance to make the All-Star team this year, but he deserved mention in the article considering that his numbers are comparable.

I do not see him making an All-Star team in his career, not because he is not talented, but because he will probably only play the current role that he plays, a sixth man, and they rarely make All-Star games.