The 2020 NBA All-Star Reserves are set to be announced on 30 January @ 7 PM ET. Watch LIVE with NBA TV!
Prior to the release NBA.com’s staff sat down and chose who they think deserves to be an All-Star. See their selections below:
Who do you have as your Eastern Conference All-Star reserves and why?
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Steve Aschburner
Bam Adebayo, Jimmy Butler, Domantas Sabonis, Kyle Lowry, Ben Simmons, Khris Middleton and Jayson Tatum
Quick thoughts on my picks: Middleton made his I-want-to-go statement with 51 points Tuesday, so even though I don’t favor the idea that great records mean a team automatically has more than one All-Star, I’m persuaded now. Wasn’t going to pander to the Chicago locale for All-Star weekend by choosing Zach LaVine. The Bulls’ record and his defense argue against him, so having him launch 3-pointers on Saturday should be plenty. I’m assuming Butler won’t ghost the game this time like he did in 2018, but if he does, LaVine can take his spot on the East squad just like he has on the Bulls.
Shaun Powell
Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Khris Middleton, Ben Simmons, Domantas Sabonis, Jaylen Brown and Kyle Lowry
Why I picked them: There were tough choices, as expected, and this time with a twist: Jaylen Brown or Jayson Tatum? Total coin toss between Celtics teammates and either would be fine. Brown seems a bit better all-around and on both ends so far this season.
John Schuhmann
Written in pen on first pass: Jimmy Butler, Khris Middleton and Ben Simmons. I voted for Simmons as a starter. He’s a two-way force. Middleton is averaging 20 points on 50/40/90 in less than 29 minutes for the best team in the league, helping them still dominate when the reigning Kia MVP is off the floor. Butler has been one of the worst high-volume shooters in the league, but has still been relatively efficient by getting to the line a ton, is one of five guys averaging 20, six and six, and is one of the league’s best perimeter defenders.
Pretty easy calls: Bam Adebayo, Kyle Lowry and Domantas Sabonis. Adebayo and Sabonis have remarkably similar numbers for two of the six good teams in the East. They’re offensive hubs and solid defenders. The Raptors have been the second best team in the East, and Lowry has been their engine. He kept them afloat when they were missing three of their top six guys.
Last spot: Jayson Tatum. The third-year forward gets the edge over teammate Jaylen Brown (who’s been more efficient) for a little bit more per-game production and about 150 more minutes played. Tatum has also been a very good defender for the league’s third-ranked defense. The only player on a bad team that was considered was Bradley Beal, but he’s a big reason the Wizards have the league’s worst defense by a wide margin. Defense matters.
Sekou Smith
Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Khris Middleton, Ben Simmons, Domantas Sabonis, Jaylen Brown and Derrick Rose
Why I picked them: The first five guys seem like no-brainers to me. Butler and Adebayo have been huge for the most surprising team in the East. Simmons, like Butler, could have easily been a starter. And Sabonis has been the steady backbone of the Pacers’ frontline all season. The difference between Brown and Jayson Tatum is razor thin … they’re both worthy. It was Brown by a hair. And Rose earned his spot the hard way, reinventing his game once again in Detroit. My apologies to Kyle Lowry.
Michael C. Wright
Jimmy Butler, Bam Adebayo, Ben Simmons, Khris Middleton, Domantas Sabonis, Derrick Rose and Jayson Tatum
Why I picked them: Butler actually deserved to be an All-Star starter, while Rose — who was snubbed last year after a career resurgence, in my opinion — is worthy of a Chicago homecoming given his current streak of 12 consecutive games with 20 points or more. I still contend Simmons is playing out of position, but that doesn’t diminish what he’s done this season.
Who do you have as your Western Conference All-Star reserves and why?
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Steve Aschburner
Rudy Gobert, Nikola Jokic, Brandon Ingram, Donovan Mitchell, Damian Lillard, Chris Paul and Devin Booker
Quick thought on my picks: Lillard is a pure respect pick for all his heavy lifting in Portland.
Shaun Powell
Chris Paul, Donovan Mitchell, Damian Lillard, Russell Westbrook, Rudy Gobert, Brandon Ingram and Nikola Jokic
Why I picked them: This is a tremendous honor for Paul, who could’ve gone in another direction with his approach and attitude after being traded to OKC. Instead, he’s playing inspired ball and that shouldn’t go unnoticed. Jokic was asleep the first month of the season before he realized his All-Star chances and the Nuggets’ season were slipping away. Ingram is this year’s breakout star. Also, no All-Star tears this time for Gobert, the game’s best rim defender.
John Schuhmann
Written in pen on first pass: Rudy Gobert and Nikola Jokic. Defense matters, Gobert remains a monster on that end of the floor, and is also an important (and efficient) part of the league’s seventh-ranked offense. Jokic is the best player on the third-place team in the Western Conference.
Pretty easy calls: Devin Booker, Damian Lillard and Chris Paul. The Blazers have been disappointing, but there’s no denying how good Lillard has been. He’s averaging 28.8 points on a true shooting percentage of 61.9% (fourth among 73 players with 500 field goal attempts). Booker isn’t too far behind Lillard in regard to scoring, efficiency and assists. Paul’s boxscore numbers aren’t what they were five years ago, but he’s still one of only seven guys averaging 17, five and six, and he’s won the Thunder a lot of games with remarkable shooting in the clutch.
Last two spots: Brandon Ingram and Donovan Mitchell. This is where it gets tough. Ingram is 13th in the league in scoring (25.0 ppg) and 18th in true shooting percentage among the 73 guys with 500 shots. He’s been the best player on the Pelicans, but the Pelicans are 19-29 and have been better with him off the floor. Mitchell is on one of the best teams in the league and has done a lot of work in the clutch, but isn’t as efficient and hasn’t been the playmaker that some of these other guys have been. The toughest omission was Russell Westbrook, who is averaging 26.0 points, 8.1 rebounds and 7.4 assists for the fifth place team in the Western Conference. Efficiency and defense matter, and the Rockets have been much better offensively with James Harden on the floor without Westbrook (116.7 points scored per 100 possessions) than they’ve been with the two on the floor together (109.5).
Sekou Smith
Chris Paul, Donovan Mitchell, Damian Lillard, Russell Westbrook, Rudy Gobert, Devin Booker and Nikola Jokic
Why I picked them: Those of you who wrote Chris Paul off when he was traded to the Thunder should take a bow — you fueled his return to All-Star weekend. Mitchell is a certified star and Lillard and Westbrook should always assume they’ll be working All-Star Sunday. Gobert is the most dominating defensive presence in the league and finally gets his due. Jokic got up off the canvas, worked himself into shape and a return All-Star trip after an uneven start. The only spot where I had a dilemma was between Booker and Brandon Ingram, who was every bit as worthy. All the backcourt players are enjoying a Splash Brothers-free season.
Michael C. Wright
Chris Paul, Damian Lillard, Russell Westbrook, Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Nikola Jokic and Brandon Ingram
Why I picked them: Leaving Devin Booker off of this list hurts a little personally because he’s not only worthy of receiving an All-Star nod, but it’s long overdue. You need clutch performers as All-Star reserves, and that’s definitely what you’ve got in Paul and Lillard. Ingram, meanwhile, should also garner serious consideration for the Kia Most Improved Player Award this season.
