The NBA’s brightest stars are headed to San Francisco for All-Star Weekend, and just one group has the excellence of sending two starters: the New York Knicks.
Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities will take the ground alongside the sport’s elite, an achievement that highlights simply how far this Knicks group has come. The final time the franchise despatched two starters to an All-Star Sport? In 1975, when Walt Frazier and Earl Monroe suited up.
However does that imply the Knicks boast the perfect duo heading into All-Star Weekend?
With superstars from all corners of the league showcasing their expertise, it’s time to rank the highest 18 groups sending gamers to San Francisco.
18. LOS ANGELES CLIPPERS – JAMES HARDEN
At 35 years outdated, Harden continues to be orchestrating an offense with precision, proving that elite playmaking ages effectively — even when athleticism doesn’t.
However whereas LeBron James defies time, not each celebrity can. Harden’s greatest days are behind him, and although his Clippers stay a menace within the Western Convention, he’s now not the singular drive that may carry a group to a title.
That mentioned, his IQ, handles, and deep bag of methods nonetheless make him one of many craftiest gamers within the sport, and that’s why he’s in his eleventh All-Star Sport.
17. INDIANA PACERS – PASCAL SIAKAM
Tyrese Haliburton took a step again this season. Pascal Siakam didn’t.
His consistency has saved Indiana afloat within the East, making certain that even when their star guard struggles, the Pacers stay a top-six group.
And for the primary time in his profession, Siakam is capturing over 40% from deep. The 2-time All-Star’s potential to protect a number of positions and now stretch the ground makes him a priceless piece for an upstart Pacers group.
16. ATLANTA HAWKS – TRAE YOUNG*
Three straight seasons averaging 20+ factors and 10+ assists? Spectacular.
Profession-worst 40.7% from the sphere and 4.8 turnovers per sport? Not a lot.
Younger stays an offensive engine, however his inefficiency retains him from rising increased. He landed in San Francisco as an damage alternative for Giannis Antetokounmpo, and albeit, followers have been divided.
Many would have moderately seen LaMelo Ball get the nod over Younger, however All-Star politics not often favor gamers on dropping groups.
15. DALLAS MAVERICKS – KYRIE IRVING
The Dallas Mavericks parted methods with a future round Luka Doncic in favor of a championship window held open by Kyrie Irving.
Let that sink in.
Whereas his popularity has seen ups and downs, Irving stays some of the electrifying guards within the sport. His scoring, creativity, and championship pedigree are a part of why Dallas stays within the combine regardless of Dončić’s accidents.
At 32 years outdated, he’s exhibiting no indicators of slowing down. And when the sport’s on the road? There are few gamers you’d belief extra.
14. HOUSTON ROCKETS – ALPEREN ŞENGÜN
He’s 22 years outdated — and already a franchise cornerstone.
Şengün has emerged as some of the expert bigs in basketball, main the Rockets to their greatest season for the reason that Harden period. He performs like a mixture of Nikola Jokić and Domantas Sabonis — artful, unselfish, and sneaky dominant.
And his greatest years are nonetheless forward of him.
13. MILWAUKEE BUCKS – DAMIAN LILLARD
Dame Time is perhaps slowing down — however the clock hasn’t struck midnight simply but.
The wear and tear and tear is seen, however Lillard continues to be a 40-point menace with vary that warps defenses. His challenge? He’s additionally the primary participant an opponent desires to see switched onto them in crunch time.
It’s why, regardless of his offensive brilliance, he doesn’t crack the highest 10.
12. MIAMI HEAT – TYLER HERRO
With Jimmy Butler shipped off to Golden State, the highlight belongs to Tyler Herro.
And to date, he’s thriving.
At 25 years outdated, Herro is averaging a career-best 24 factors, 5.5 rebounds, and 5.5 assists, retaining Miami afloat within the Play-In race.
His ceiling? Increased than folks notice.
11. PHOENIX SUNS – KEVIN DURANT
Kevin Durant is a hooper. He desires to play, rating, and win.
However his profession retains getting disrupted by large trades that intestine his supporting solid. He’s the definition of a employed gun, and whereas his scoring has aged like wonderful wine, discovering the correct match stays a problem below at this time’s CBA.
10. GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS – STEPHEN CURRY
Curry is having certainly one of his lowest-scoring seasons — however that’s by design.
The Warriors are creating their younger core, and Curry is taking part in the lengthy sport. That mentioned, his affect is unmatched, and nobody will come near his influence from behind the arc for a protracted, very long time.
9. LOS ANGELES LAKERS – LEBRON JAMES
This is perhaps LeBron’s farewell tour, however does it really feel prefer it?
At 40 years outdated, he’s nonetheless a top-10 participant with one other two to 3 years left within the tank. If he wins one other title — on a fourth group — his GOAT case will get more durable to disclaim.
8. DETROIT PISTONS – CADE CUNNINGHAM
The Pistons are again — and Cunningham is the rationale why.
He’s averaging 25.5 factors, 9.4 assists, and 6.3 rebounds — and he’s solely 23 years outdated.
Most Improved Participant? He might not need it, however he deserves it.
7. MINNESOTA TIMBERWOLVES – ANTHONY EDWARDS
He leads all NBA gamers in three-point capturing amongst these trying at the least 10 per sport — and he’s the heartbeat of the Timberwolves.
Oh, and he’s additionally probably the most quotable participant in basketball.
The league belongs to Ant-Man quickly sufficient.
6. DENVER NUGGETS – NIKOLA JOKIĆ
Jokić is averaging a 30-point triple-double and capturing 45% from three — all whereas making it look easy.
If there wasn’t a extra spectacular season unfolding in Oklahoma Metropolis, the MVP race could be his to lose.
5. CLEVELAND CAVALIERS – DONOVAN MITCHELL, DARIUS GARLAND, EVAN MOBLEY
Quietly, Cleveland has constructed a three-headed monster.
Donovan Mitchell is a bucket. Darius Garland is a flooring common. And Evan Mobley has Defensive Participant of the 12 months potential.
Collectively, they’ve powered the Cavaliers to the East’s greatest document coming into the break.
If Cleveland lastly makes a deep playoff run, Mitchell may lastly shake the postseason curses which have plagued his profession.
And if Mobley’s leap is only the start? The Cavs won’t be a “future” contender anymore.
4. NEW YORK KNICKS – JALEN BRUNSON, KARL-ANTHONY TOWNS
Brunson and Cities have made MSG must-watch TV.
The Knicks have the NBA’s second-best offense, and when OG Anunoby and Mitchell Robinson return, the protection ought to comply with swimsuit.
This group is harmful, and it’s led by the “Cap” and the KAT. The stakes, after every thing it took to place this group collectively, are at an all-time excessive.
Can this duo reply the bell?
3. SAN ANTONIO SPURS – VICTOR WEMBANYAMA
The way forward for basketball wears a Spurs jersey.
At 7-3 with guard expertise, Wembanyama has already flashed the MVP-caliber dominance that made him probably the most hyped prospect since LeBron.
Defensively, he’s altering photographs at a historic price. Offensively, he’s getting extra snug creating his personal shot.
By the point he hits his prime, the NBA won’t have a solution for him.
Then once more, his expertise have already left the league and its followers speechless, and he’s solely 21.
2. OKLAHOMA CITY THUNDER – SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER, JALEN WILLIAMS
The Thunder personal the perfect document within the NBA.
And Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is the most important motive why.
OKC’s star guard has elevated his sport to MVP ranges, whereas Jalen Williams’ breakout season has helped remodel the Thunder from a younger, enjoyable group right into a reliable title contender.
And the scary half? Chet Holmgren isn’t even on this dialog but.
1. BOSTON CELTICS – JAYSON TATUM, JAYLEN BROWN
To be the champs, you’ve acquired to beat the champs.
Boston nonetheless owns the throne.
Say what you need concerning the Celtics, however they’ve the league’s deepest, most full roster. Tatum and Brown are a battle-tested duo, they usually’ve led Boston to the perfect level differential within the NBA.
Have they got weaknesses? Positive.
However till one other group knocks them off, the street to the title nonetheless runs by way of Boston.
