The Philadelphia 76ers have had an eventful season. How many All-Stars will it yield?
There isn’t a single team more polarizing than the 2019-20 Philadelphia 76ers. A team loaded with talent, shrouded in doubt, and trained in the art of inconsistency. The Sixers are a solid bet to make your head implode night-to-night, but how many All-Star berths does such a team deserve?
There are three viable candidates on the roster — Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons, and Tobias Harris. Serious props go to Al Horford and Josh Richardson, as the newbies have had their moments, but neither has played with the consistency needed to make a true All-Star bid.
At 23-14, the Sixers are sixth in the air-tight Eastern Conference — 3.5 games out of second place. The only lock seems to be Milwaukee at No. 1, meaning Philadelphia could hold home court for two rounds, or they could face Boston on the road in the first. Both are feasible outcomes.
Of course, there is a large chunk of season left to play — over half — but it feels late enough to begin discussing the 2020 All-Star ballot. Beyond the Sixers, here’s a breakdown of my picks in both conferences.
EASTERN CONFERENCE STARTERS
Endlessly clever and the ultimate glue guy, Kyle Lowry has emerged as the Eastern Conference’s top point guard in 2019-20. The Raptors have managed to thrive in Kawhi Leonard‘s absence, in large part due to Lowry’s stabilizing presence on the perimeter. He makes Toronto tick.
Shooting, passing, off-ball — Lowry checks every box. He can ISO when needed, carve it up in a pick-and-roll, or slip in a nice screen to free up a teammate. He’s everywhere he’s needed on the court, and it often flies under the (box score) radar.
The Wizards are a hot mess, especially on defense. Bradley Beal continues to rise above the crowd, building on his breakout 2018-19 season despite the team’s limited success. Washington has a fiery offense, and Beal is due a large amount of credit.
A drop in efficiency and poor defensive metrics are unavoidable knocks on Beal, but his talent as a three-level scorer goes unquestioned. He also leads Washington in assists, and has admirably filled the playmaking void left by John Wall.
The Sixers really had Jimmy Butler… in a new situation more conducive to his skill set, Butler has reasserted his status as a borderline top-10 player. His numbers don’t immediately stand out as special, but he’s a selfless player who tends to better those around him.
Butler is a gifted scorer, a methodical pick-and-roll threat, and an underrated passer. He’s also among the league leaders in steals, and plays a large role in Miami’s pesky defense. He’s on track for All-Defense votes.
The current MVP favorite and possibly the best player in basketball, Giannis Antetokounmpo has led the Bucks to a commanding lead in the Eastern Conference standings. Mike Budenholzer has engineered the perfect system for Giannis’ physical, downhill attack. His ability to bludgeon defenses into submission hasn’t met many answers so far.
In addition to his marginal improvements on offense — his three-point shot is perking up — Giannis is a viable Defensive Player of the Year candidate at this moment in time. The Bucks are the league’s top-rated defense, and Giannis’ wide-ranging impact is the main reason why.
Even in a ‘down season,’ Joel Embiid is a no-brainer. His defensive impact is singular, while his offense continues to trend in the right direction despite Philadelphia’s best effort to work against him. Embiid still has frustrating moments of tunnel vision and indecision, but in the end, his status as a top-10 player is concrete.
The Sixers are still contenders in the East despite a slew of concerns and a dissatisfied locker room. Embiid is the emotional and on-court leader in Philadelphia, and the more assertive his approach, the better the Sixers.
EASTERN CONFERENCE RESERVES
The Raptors are a genuine second-tier contender in the East the year after Kawhi Leonard and Danny Green bolted in free agency. It’s a testament to Toronto’s depth, but also Pascal Siakam, who has stepped seamlessly into the No. 1 scoring role. He could earn consecutive Most Improved Player nominations.
Siakam has ratcheted up his three-point shooting and boosted his efficiency. He’s still a handful in straight-line drives, and his knack for winning races up court keeps Toronto dangerous on the fast break. He’s not a shabby defender either.
Ben Simmons deserves more Defensive Player of the Year love. At 6-foot-10, he leads the NBA in steals per game. His physical gifts also allow him to aptly defend five positions, an attribute few players truly possess. He sticks to the opposition’s top scorer like glue, and his effort seldom wanes.
It has been a down year offensively for Simmons, but it’s more a function of his environment than him. He won’t shoot, but he’s a more diverse finisher at the rim, a wiz passing the ball, and a steady presence on the glass. Call it whatever you’d like — Simmons’ season deserves an All-Star berth.
A poetic blend of shifty handles, intoxicating step-backs, and feathery finishes, Kemba Walker ranks near the top of the league in entertainment value. Now he’s in a position to blend his sizzling aesthetic with winning basketball, and the results have been quite enjoyable.
The Celtics are a fun, fluid offense, with several well-fitted pieces who — in a stark departure from last season — feed well off one another. Walker has earned the ‘selfish’ label in the past, and for totally incorrect reasons. He’s a gem on-ball, but he’s equally as effective off the ball, launching off-balance threes and relentlessly cutting to open spots.
This is a toughie. Jayson Tatum has a compelling argument and Boston might end up with three All-Stars. For now, Jaylen Brown gets the nod due to his tremendous uptick in efficiency. After a junior year dud, Brown has lived up to his lofty contract extension.
Brown has improved across the board this season — his handles are better, he’s drilling 40 percent of his threes, and his free throw percentage is up 10 ticks. He’s not the defender Tatum is, but Brown has carved out a significant role in Boston’s future.
Another Defensive Player of the Year candidate in a crowded early field, Bam Adebayo has revolutionized his game in year three. The Kentucky product has doubled his shot attempts without sacrificing his efficiency. He has also emerged as an elite passer at the five spot, locating teammates as a roller and playmaking out of the post.
Adebayo deserves immense credit for Miami’s unexpected success on both ends of the floor. Much of the attention has gone to Butler, for obvious reasons, but Adebayo has stepped up as a true second star. He should get his first All-Star nod.
The Bucks’ dominance deserves reward in the form of a second All-Star. Khris Middleton doesn’t jump off the page statistically, but he’s also playing the least minutes of anyone on this list (hint: it’s because the Bucks are so stinkin’ good). He has upped his efficiency over last season, and he continues to thrive in Bud’s revamped Milwaukee offense.
Middleton deserves respect for the sacrifices he has made in Milwaukee’s offense. He’s no longer married to the mid-range, instead honing in on his clean three-point stroke. He’s as good a fit as one could imagine next to Giannis.
The Hawks are the worst team in basketball. That alone will disqualify Trae Young for some voters, and that’s fine. There are plenty of deserving candidates in the East this season. Atlanta’s struggles don’t fall on Young’s shoulders, however, and his raw production is hard to overlook.
Young is a game-breaking (offensive) talent. He can shatter ankles, bomb shots from 30 feet, and think up passes reminiscent of the game’s greats. He is arguably the most complete passer in basketball as a 21-year-old. Defensive maladies and all, Trae gets a nod.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Jayson Tatum, Devonte’ Graham, Spencer Dinwiddie, Andre Drummond, Malcolm Brogdon, Domantas Sabonis
WESTERN CONFERENCE STARTERS
With all due respect to the Phoenix Suns and Sacramento Kings, COME ON. Everyone — and I mean almost everyone — had Luka Doncic No. 1 on their draft boards. No one could have foreseen his rapid rise to MVP-type status, but his status as a once-in-a-generation prospect was never in question.
The Mavs are surprise contenders behind Luka’s barrage of step-backs, skip passes, and touch shots. At 6-foot-8 and without what one might consider elite athleticism, he is carving up NBA defenses like Thanksgiving turkeys. Poor Sacramento.
The Beard is a full-blown cheat code. James Harden has managed to improve on a historic offensive campaign — he’s averaging damn near 40 points a game, and his efficiency has gone up. Up! The Rockets still have lingering concerns as a team, but no one can deny Harden’s individual greatness.
On raw numbers alone, Harden is a lock in the starting five. He’s also a lock in the MVP discussion, and a lock in the discussion of all-time great scorers. I don’t understand the wave of complaints aimed at Harden every night. He’s as smart and crafty as any player in the NBA. It’s a sublime viewing experience.
In a shocking and truly unexpected development — one that has rocked the world to its very core — LeBron James is still good at basketball. His 2018-19 season was more a throwaway than a sign of meaningful regression. James has definitely had his lumps as a free throw shooter and defender, but he still occupies the league’s best player debate.
The Lakers are a buzzsaw when locked in, at least when it comes to regular season basketball. James has done everything possible to ease Anthony Davis into the system, and the Lakers have done a much better job complementing James’ skill set this time around. He leads the NBA in assists.
Kawhi Leonard has seen a worrying decline in efficiency, which has led to speculation about his health, both short and long-term. Nonetheless, it’s impossible to ignore his presence as a top-five NBA player, an all-world defender, and all of a sudden, a dynamic playmaker on the wing.
Leonard’s one glaring flaw during the Toronto run was his passing. Or, more precisely, his ability to make quick, advanced reads. He would often hesitate when faced with a double, which would allow the defense time to recover. That’s no longer an issue. Leonard is averaging a career high assists per game, and his decisions have sped up tremendously. Leonard, on his A-game, will give L.A. a shot at the title.
Anthony Davis’ production has barely taken a hit since joining LeBron in L.A.. He’s the Lakers’ top scorer, and his 2.5 blocks per game is one of several stats included in a convincing case for Defensive Player of the Year as the calendar flips.
A killer face-up threat, an imposing post scorer, and good for the occasional three, Davis checks every box on offense. He has even developed a nice passing repertoire over the past couple seasons — far from elite, but good enough to sooth prior concerns. He’s a lock.
WESTERN CONFERENCE RESERVES
Despite the early-season injury and missed time, Paul George is on track for another All-Star bid. He didn’t take long to get into rhythm as Leonard’s right-hand man in L.A., even if his production pales in comparison to last season’s top-three MVP finish.
George is an elite defender on the wing, in a class similar to his aforementioned star teammate. He can defend across positions at 6-foot-8, and his versatility gives impressive range to the Clippers defense. Both L.A. teams deserve two All-Stars.
Depending on who you ask, Karl-Anthony Towns has earned the qualification of basketball’s top offensive center. I’ve always thought the ‘soft’ label was unfair to Towns, and he has done plenty to rise above it this season. Now he’s a more accomplished defender than ever before.
The Wolves have plummeted into a rocky abyss after starting the season strong, but Towns bears no fault. He’s the lone stabilizer in a wayward offense, and his ability to score at all three levels — step-backs, face-ups, spot-ups, post-ups, whatever — is unique to him at 6-foot-11.
Rarely do you find a guard in the Devin Booker mold who shoots 50 percent from the field. The Suns have gone dormant after an explosive start to the season, but Booker deserves praise for his best campaign to date. He’s blending volume and efficiency better than most can.
Booker has more help this season — Ricky Rubio is a bonafide set-up man, Deandre Ayton and Aron Baynes are imposing forces, and Kelly Oubre is comfortable as a No. 2 scorer. It’s still Booker, though, who makes the engine turn. His growth as a playmaker and defender cement an All-Star bid.
After a pompous 2018-19 season, Nikola Jokic somehow managed to make fans question his conditioning even more. This season has marked a decisive step back for Jokic — his scoring is down, his assists are down, and his percentages are down. Something feels off.
Even so, there’s little in the way of Jokic returning to the All-Star game. The Nuggets are a genuine contender deserving of All-Star recognition, and despite his regression, Jokic remains a dynamic and uniquely impactful presence on offense.
The Blazers are struggling to keep their collective heads above water. Injuries have plagued Portland all season, and Damian Lillard has done everything in his power to keep the Blazers within striking distance of the eighth seed, with limited success.
On talent and production alone, it’s impossible to deny Lillard’s belonging on this list. He’s the most vicious shooter in basketball sans Curry, and his playmaking has elevated a subpar supporting cast.
What a fourth season for Brandon Ingram, who’s due for a shiny new extension (or a max contract somewhere else) this summer. Ingram has taken over the mantle of lead scorer in NOLA, coming into his own as a shooter and a secondary creator.
A wiry mass of arms and skill, Ingram has always maintained intrigue from pundits. That intrigue has officially turned into admiration. His free throw shooting is up nearly 20 ticks — it feels much more substantial than a flash-in-the-pan hot streak. This is No. 2 pick production.
You could go several directions here, but Chris Paul has quietly outperformed partner-in-trade Russell Westbrook all season. Seriously! The Thunder are in the playoff hunt, and Paul’s contributions have kept OKC afloat despite sweeping offseason changes.
The numbers don’t pop, but when has Paul’s impact boiled down to box score highlights. He’s a meticulous playmaker, an endlessly smart manipulator of defenses, and a clutch late-game scorer. After looking dead in the water for stretches last season, it’s nice to see such a strong reminder of Paul’s brilliance.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Donovan Mitchell, Rudy Gobert, Russell Westbrook, Andrew Wiggins, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, CJ McCollum, LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMar DeRozan, Jamal Murray