NBA Predictions: 11 Players Who Could Be First-Time All-Stars in L.A.
We are about 10 games into the NBA season for most teams. Some players have been consistently standing out as potential first-time NBA All-Stars this season, while other perennial All-Stars aren't having All-Star-caliber seasons.
In this slideshow I will present to you last season's stats and this season's stats for each of these 11 potential All-Star newbies.
1. Rudy Gay, SF, Memphis Grizzlies
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Rudy Gay's stats are insanely better this season than they were last season. Granted, 10 games doesn't seem like a large sample size of games to determine a player's All-Star potential. But if you do the math we are already one-eighth of the way through the season and his numbers are vastly superior to last year's.
2009-2010 Stats:
19.6 PPG
5.9 RPG
1.9 APG
1.5 SPG
2010-2011 Stats (through 10 games):
25.2 PPG
7.1 RPG
2.8 APG
1.7 SPG
2. Monta Ellis, SG, Golden State Warriors
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Ellis has been playing All-Star-caliber basketball and sparking the exciting Golden State offense since last season. I believe he is one season overdue for a trip to the All-Star game. Ellis is one of the most explosive scorers and one of the most entertaining players in the league.
2009-2010 Stats:
25.5 PPG
4 RPG
5.3 APG
2.2 SPG
2010-2011 Stats (through 10 games):
26.5 PPG
4.2 RPG
5 APG
2.7 SPG
3. Russell Westbrook, PG, Oklahoma City Thunder
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Russell Westbrook's ability to score, rebound, and dish assists consistently reminds me of another great PG in his prime: Jason Kidd. Westbrook is a young, exciting, bad slamma-jamma. His sick vertical abilities, quickness and strength at the point guard position make it easy for him to score in bunches, rebound in bunches and rack up the assists on a daily basis.
2009-2010 Stats:
16.1 PPG
4.9 RPG
8 APG
1.3 SPG
2010-2011 Stats (through eight games):
24.3 PPG
6.4 RPG
7.8 APG
2.2 SPG
4. Paul Millsap, PF, Utah Jazz
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With Carlos Boozer out of Utah, Millsap is enjoying the starting power forward position that he has recently inherited. Millsap is scoring and rebounding and doing it with ease. Millsap scored 46 points in a game at Miami this season, and he had a 16-rebound game at Oklahoma City—two very tough places to play, against two talented teams.
2009-2010 Stats:
11.6 PPG
6.8 RPG
1.6 APG
0.8 SPG
2010-2011 Stats (through 10 games):
21.9 PPG
9.3 RPG
2.5 APG
1.1 SPG
5. Luis Scola, PF, Houston Rockets
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Scola has been one of the Rockets' staples since taking over the starting power forward position back in 2008. He has been a solid scorer and rebounder since becoming a starter, but this season he must be eating his Wheaties for breakfast everyday. While the Rockets aren't winning games, Scola is doing the best he can to keep these losses close.
2009-2010 Stats:
16.2 PPG
8.6 RPG
2010-2011 Stats (through eight games):
21.9 PPG
11.1 RPG
6. John Wall, PG, Washington Wizards
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Now, I know John Wall is only a rookie and he is not up to par with many other guards in the Eastern Conference. But he has put up all-around fantastic stats for a rookie and he could definitely get a popularity vote into the All-Star game just because he is John Wall.
2009-2010 Stats (with Kentucky):
16.6 PPG
4.3 RPG
6.5 APG
1.8 SPG
2010-2011 Stats (through eight games):
18.1 PPG
4 RPG
9.8 APG
3.2 SPG
7. Roy Hibbert, C, Indiana Pacers
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Hibbert has been Indiana's starting center since the second half of his rookie campaign, but he is just now showing us why he should be a starting center in the NBA. I was not a huge fan of Hibbert's when he was drafted. I had high expectations for him right away because of his size, but he is finally growing on me and his talent is growing on Indiana.
2009-2010 Stats:
11.7 PPG
5.7 RPG
1.6 BPG
2010-2011 Stats (through eight games):
16.1 PPG
9.6 RPG
3 BPG
8. Kevin Love, PF, Minnesota Timberwolves
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I know this picture of Love is from NBA All-Star Weekend in Dallas this past season, but this was in the Rookie Challenge. Love was on the sophomore team. Being the UCLA fan that I am, I really wish Love had stayed around for more than one season—I know Texas fans feel the same way about Kevin Durant.
Love was a solid player last season, but he played in an offense that was run through Al Jefferson. Since Jefferson's departure to Utah and Michael Beasley's arrival, Love has quickly become a cornerstone of the franchise and an absolutely dominant inside presence. How else do you explain 31 points and 31 rebounds in one game?
2009-2010 Stats:
14 PPG
11 RPG
2010-2011 Stats (through 10 games):
18 PPG
14.6 RPG
9. Joakim Noah, C, Chicago Bulls
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It is about time Noah developed his offensive game. And with his developed offensive abilities has come his ability to absolutely dominate the boards. I was losing hope in Noah during his first couple seasons, when he was only averaging approximately six points and six rebounds a game. But those numbers have drastically improved each year since.
2009-2010 Stats:
10.7 PPG
11 RPG
1.6 BPG
2010-2011 Stats (through eight games):
16.5 PPG
13.3 RPG
2 BPG
10. Blake Griffin, PF, Los Angeles Clippers
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No one knew what to expect out of Blake Griffin this season after the injury that kept him out all of last season. Everyone knew about his dominance in Oklahoma, but would his size match up to the NBA? It sure has so far. Griffin has been a consistent rebounding and scoring threat and he is leading the dismal Clippers. But with Griffin, Eric Bledsoe and Eric Gordon, the Clippers definitely have a young bunch to look forward to watching.
2008-2009 Stats (with Oklahoma):
22.7 PPG
14.4 RPG
2010-2011 Stats (through 10 games):
16.6 PPG
10.9 RPG
11. Stephen Curry, PG, Golden State Warriors
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I lived near Davidson College while Stephen Curry was playing ball there and I had the pleasure of watching him a couple times and supporting him and the Wildcats in their deep NCAA tournament run. Who would have ever guessed that a boy like Curry, who went to a small school in a small town in North Carolina, would find great success in the NBA on the other side of the country? Curry has developed into a great star in Golden State. He will only get better with more experience and, hopefully, more weight.
2009-2010 Stats:
17.5 PPG
4.5 RPG
5.9 APG
1.9 SPG
2010-2011 Stats (through eight games):
19.3 PPG
3.1 RPG
6.4 APG
2.4 SPG
Honorable Mentions
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The following players are potential All-Stars as well but, in my opinion, they have not done as well yet this season as the first 11 players to earn a spot on my list of players who should be first-time All-Stars.
Al Jefferson, C, Utah Jazz
Josh Smith, PF, Atlanta Hawks
Tyreke Evans, PG/SG, Sacramento Kings
Kevin Martin, SG, Houston Rockets
Stephen Jackson, SG, Charlotte Bobcats
Eric Gordon, SG, Los Angeles Clippers
Andrea Bargnani, C, Toronto Raptors
Michael Beasley, SF, Minnesota Timberwolves
Luol Deng, SF, Chicago Bulls
Brook Lopez, C, New Jersey Nets
Jason Richardson, SG, Phoenix Suns
Perennial All-Stars who will not be All-Stars this season include:
Chris Bosh, PF, Miami Heat
Kevin Garnett, PF, Boston Celtics
Chauncey Billups, PG, Denver Nuggets
Tim Duncan, PF, San Antonio Spurs
Jason Kidd, PG, Dallas Mavericks
