MIAMI, FLORIDA - DECEMBER 01: Darius Garland #10 and Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrate against the Miami Heat during the second half at FTX Arena on December 01, 2021 in Miami, Florida. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Ranking first-time NBA All-Stars by future potential
CLEVELAND, OHIO – JANUARY 04: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies steals the ball from Darius Garland #10 of the Cleveland Cavaliers during the fourth quarter at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on January 04, 2022, in Cleveland, Ohio. The Grizzlies defeated the Cavaliers 110-106, Ranking first-time NBA All-Stars by future potential. NOTE TO USER: The user expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, the user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Jason Miller/Getty Images)
The NBA All-Star Game is stacked with the game’s current stars. Some won’t always hold that position, though – LeBron James is going to have to retire someday, right?
There are seven players who are competing in the All-Star Game for the first time this year, when considering those subbed in as injury replacements. In alphabetical order: Jarrett Allen, LaMelo Ball, Darius Garland, Ja Morant, Dejounte Murray, Fred VanVleet, and Andrew Wiggins.
Not all first-time NBA All-Stars are created equally. Which players will provide the most value to their teams moving forward?
The first-time competitors pretty much run the gamut in terms of experience. Garland, Ball, and Morant have gained a lot of momentum as the future of elite guards in the NBA this season. Meanwhile, Wiggins has been around since the Obama presidency, making his selection a surprise.
For this exercise, we’re going to say that all seven of these players are at an inflection point in their careers. Each player is deserving of their All-Star status in their own way. But how will they develop and evolve at this point going forward?
The answers may seem obvious, but judging by this crop of first-time All-Stars, it’s clear that we never have a definitive grip on how the future will turn out. After all, last year’s rosters included four first-time All-Stars. Jaylen Brown and Zach LaVine still seem to be on the come-up, but Zion Williamson can’t stay healthy, and Julius Randle is regressing before the eyes of the New York Knicks.
So what will these future NBA All-Stars contribute in the future?
