NBA All star 2025: Locked, Likely and Potential all stars

Written by Noah Kang and Liam Bekavac, 01/20/2024

Noah Son-Kang & Liam Bekavac-Hebel, January 19th 2025

As we wrap up the first half of this years NBA season many have started to anticipate the selection of upcoming All Star players to compete in the 2025 San Francisco all star game. This article we go into who we predict will be given the accolade.

EASTERN CONFERENCE - Liam

LOCKED:

Jayson Tatum: 27.9ppg/ 9.4Rpg/ 5.4

The all nba forward is a lock to be an all star this season, He putting up career numbers in rebounds and assists and is the stat leader in everything except steals on the Celtics who despite a slide lately are still the reigning champions and the “Team to beat”.

Giannis Antentoukonpo: 31.8ppg/ 11.4Rpg/ 6.1Apg

The conversation for Giannis as an all star starter doesn’t need to be had. The two-time MVP is continuing to dominate as a player just as he has for 8 years now. Despite a tough start to the season in milwaukee giannis continues to put up incredible stats that lands him in MVP conversations.

Karl-Anthony Towns: 25.4ppg/ 13.9Rpg/ 3.3Apg

Coming off a trade from the franchise he spent 10 years with KAT has found himself a perfect home in New York with the Knicks. KAT is putting up the best numbers of his career after being traded. KAT is currently second in rebounds per game across the league. On top of this he is playing at an all NBA level and putting himself in the debate for who the best player is on a contending Kicks team. Especially with the injuries to Ex-MVP Joel Embiid, KAT should easily be the starting Center for this year's all star game. 

Lamelo Ball: 29.6Ppg/ 5.5Rpg/ 7.5Apg

Despite the failures of the charlotte hornets so far this season lamelo will 100% be an all star and likely will be a starter. The young dynamic guard has quickly taken over the fan vote as a flashy, stylistic player who fans have followed since his freshman high school days. Melo has also put up career numbers and is one of the best scorers in the league right now.

Donovan mitchell:22.7Ppg/ 4.4Rpg/ 4.4Apg

Although Mitchell is having a statistically underwhelming season he is a lock for this year's all star game, likely as a starter. Mitchell has taken a step back from being the offensive juggernaut star of Cleveland and allowed for his teammates to excel alongside him. It should be obvious that the best player on the best team in the league at the moment should receive an all star selection and starting spot. 

Likelies:

Darius garland:21.0Ppg/ 2.5Rpg/ 6.7Apg

After an injury riddled and disappointing 2023-24 campaign, Garland has more than redeemed himself as a franchise piece for cleveland. Being the Robin to Donovan Mitchell's Batman, Garland has reminded the league who he is as a star point guard that can run an offense with his eyes closed. Along with this having the best record in the east gives him an extremely strong case to participate in the all star game.

Jaylen Brown:23.4Ppg/ 5.9Rpg/ 4.7Apg

The reigning finals MVP isn't quite a lock for the all star game as he has had a relatively inconsistent season. However the dynamic slashing forward is still putting up strong numbers and is the second option on a intimidating Celtics team.It should be a shock to no-one when Brown is selected for his 4th All star Appearance. 

Cade cunningham: 24.4Ppg/ 6.5Rpg/ 9.4Apg

To many casual fans this selection may be a shocker as they likely know cade as the face of the infamous 2023-24 pistons, However cade along with the pistons have taken a hard 180. Cade is putting up career numbers in every category as well as leading Detroit to what could be a playoff appearance. Cunningham is finally looking like the franchise player that everyone expected him to be out of the draft class.

Trae young: 23.1 Ppg/ 3.4Rpg/ 11.9Apg

Due to years of mediocrity from the Atlanta Hawks since their incredible 2021 playoff run, Trae has become somewhat of an underrated point guard despite being the best facilitator in the league. The hawks are having yet another .500 season so far and that is the only reason that comes to mind that trae wouldn’t be an all star. It should be no shocker to hear his name called for the all star game in a few weeks time however.

Jalen brunson:26.0Ppg/ 3.0Rpg/ 7.5Apg

Jalen Brunson had a somewhat weak start to the season after looking like an MVP just last year, he has started to regain his pace though. Brunson is still an obvious star and franchise cornerstone for New York and his stats speak to that. Brunson will likely be an automatic all star coming off the 3rd best team in the eastern conference as a first option. 

Potential:

Paolo Banchero: 27.6Ppg/ 8.0Rpg/ 4.9Apg

Paolo's numbers seem like that of an all star starter and I wouldn’t disagree with that statement if it weren't for his minimal games played which causes him to fall into the potential all star category. Banchero missed 37 games after suffering an oblique tear in late october. However, before the injury and since paolo has been on a tear. He was an all star last year putting up significantly worse numbers than last year, if it weren't for the injury this would be a much more confident pick. Due to fan popularity and the magic being the 4th seed in the east paolo will likely make the call.

Evan Mobley: 18.6Ppg/ 8.8Rpg/ 2.9Apg

Mobley is having a strong season as a defensive anchor for the best team in the league, that alone places him in the all star conversation. Along with this the east is relatively limited frontcourt wise. The one detriment to his all star chances is that it’s very rare for a team (even as good as cleveland) to have 3 all stars in one season. With the last team being the 2018-19 Warriors. 

WESTERN CONFERENCE - Noah

Locked:

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander: 31.5 ppg/ 5.3 rpg/ 6.1Apg

Currently the MVP frontrunner, Shai is leading the best team in the NBA while putting up career numbers in nearly all categories. “Mr. Consistent”, has taken a jump in nearly every year of his career, and now leading the league in scoring while shooting 50% from the field and 90% from the line.  

Nikola Jokic: 30.1Ppg/ 13.2Rpg/ 9.9Apg

The only player challenging Shai’s MVP case, Jokic has somehow managed to improve this year, increasing his scoring output above 30 ppg. In addition, he is shooting 56% from the field and a career high 47% from three. He has managed to improve 

Luka Doncic:28.1Ppg/8.3Rpg/7.8Apg

An inefficient start from Luka hurt his MVP case, and a severe calf strain officially negates his eligibility for the award. Nonetheless, Luka is still the offensive juggernaut we know, thus he is still a guaranteed all-star. While his counting stats are down, he is still an all-nba caliber player, yet the fact that he only played 22 games hurts his progression. If he returns from his injury healthy, the Mavericks could be a playoffs dark horse. 

Victor Wembanyama:24.4Ppg/10.8Rpg/3.7Apg

Victor Wembanyama has received all the hype in the world this season–and rightfully so– he leads the league comfortably in bpg with 4.0, and total blocks. Practically a lock for dpoy, the award is his to lose, and he improved on an inefficient and rocky start to the season, now shooting 47.3% from the field and 35.4% from three. His jump has single-handedly improved the spur record, already at 18 wins to last year’s 22. 

Lebron James:23.8Ppg/7.4Rpg/8.9Apg

Lebron James leads NBA history with 20 all-star appearances, and undoubtedly, he is an all-star for the rest of his career. The greatest player of all time, his counting statistics have declined slightly, but no matter, Lebron will be an all-star until his retirement. 

Anthony Davis: 25.6Ppg/11.8Rpg/3.5Apg

Lebron’s frontcourt partner, AD started the season on an MVP caliber run, and while his numbers have slightly regressed, he is still a locked all-nba player this year, and in MVP contention. AD has been elite on both sides of the ball, all while shooting 52% from the field. The Lakers are solidly the 6th seed, and contending for a playoff spot. 

Kevin Durant: 27.4Ppg/6.4Rpg/4.2Apg

KEvin Durant started his season with injury woes, yet quickly bouncing back from that, he is now back to his old ways. Putting up near-identical statistics to last year’s NBA season, KD is shooting 52.1/37.3/82.2 percent from the field. While the Suns have certainly had a disappointing season, that is not at the fault of KD, who is likely to be a perennial all-nba player, and an all-star until retirement.

Likely:

Stephen curry:23.0Ppg/5.0Rpg/6.2Apg

While his numbers have certainly regressed, Curry would make the all-star team off fan votes alone, yet the respect he garners within the league warrants an all-star appearance. We know what Curry does, and despite a lackluster Warriors season, Curry has still certainly had his moments.  

Anthony Edwards:26.1Ppg/5.8Rpg/4.3Apg

One of the faces of the future, and most polarizing players in the NBA, Ant has been putting up big numbers to match his big personality. Unfortunately, the Timberwolves have been bad this year, currently positioned for a play-in spot in the dog-fight western conference. Ant has changed his game this year, leading the league in three pointers made while shooting 43.2%. He is undoubtedly an all-nba player this year, and for many years to come. 

Alperun Sengun:19.4Ppg/10.5Rpg/5.1Apg

Alperen Sengun is the best player on the second best team in the competitive west, and has been an engine for the Rockets offense. In the past, Sengun’s major weakness has been defense (and 3 point shooting), yet he leads the third best defense in the league, while doing his baby Jokic gig, effective at all levels on offense (once again except three point shooting).  

Ja Morant:21.4Ppg/4.3Rpg/7.5Apg

Ja has had an injury riddled season to  say the least, yet when he does play, he is the most electrifying player on the court. Dishing out a career high 7.5 assists this year, he will have to compete for the coveted few backcourt spots on the west all star team, yet he has a slight edge over his competitors simply due to his popularity.

Potential:

James Harden:21.4Ppg/5.8Rpg/8.1Apg

On most years, James Harden would be a locked all-star, and maybe even in all-nba contention ,leading a 5th seed clippers team, who have been slowly creeping up the standings. His backcourt partner Norman Powell is certainly also in for this spot, but Harden has the edge, being an offensive engine and mastermind, scoring at all three levels, while being one of the best play-makers in the league.

Kyrie Irving:23.9Ppg/4.6Rpg/4.8Apg

Unfortunately the mavericks regression as a team hurts his MVP case, but Kyrie is still Kyrie, shooting 48.1/43.2/89.7 percent from the field, a slight improvement in all aspects compared to his career averages. His counting stats are similarly impressive, yet it might be hard for him to win an all-star spot over the other western guards. 

De'aaron Fox:25.9Ppg/5.2Rpg/6.3Apg

Competing for a spot with Kyrie, Harden, and Ja, Fox would quite honestly be my pick among the four, having the highest scoring output among them while shooting 47.9% from the field. His counting stats are easily all star worthy, all-nba worthy even, yet the Kings have been solidly middle of the pack, and Fox isn't as polarizing as the other guard on this list.