Predicting All-Star or All-NBA teams this far in advance seems like a fool’s errand.
There’s always the unexpected injury. There’s the guy that looks a little more washed than anyone thought. There’s the team that underperforms and tarnishes a player’s accolades.
The Legends are Locks
With all this in mind, the All-Star rosters don’t seem to surprise fans that much year-to-year (outside of the big market fanbases that exist in their self-insulated echo chambers). By nature of the voting system (50% fan vote, 25% player vote, 25% media vote), there are certain players that fans will inevitably vote for as long as that player is healthy.
LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo have finished in the top four in fan voting over EACH of the last seven years. Kevin Durant has finished in the top four in each of the last four years, and Stephen Curry has finished in the top five in eight of ten years. It’s safe to assume that even if LeBron, Steph and KD underperform relative to their peaks, the fan vote will still push them over the edge.
The Conundrum
With aging stars like Bron, Steph and Durant still playing at a high level in their twilight years, a certain conundrum has unfolded.
There’s a whole pool of young talent and only 24 roster spots. Guys that seem like a no-brainer — Trae Young, De’Aaron Fox or Scottie Barnes — all of a sudden find themselves on an All-Star snub list come February.
Don’t get me wrong— this is a good problem to have. The exclusivity of All-Star status, in a league with an ever-deepening talent pool, makes the accomplishment all the more special. But no matter how “deserving” a player might be, some really talented guys, often younger players without the playoff resume or team success, will get the short end of the stick. Patterns in fan/media voting from past years may help illuminate the crystal ball as we embark on predicting the future.
Remember, this is just one guy’s opinion.
2025 Eastern Conference All-Stars
Starters
- G: Jalen Brunson
- G: Tyrese Haliburton
- F: Jayson Tatum
- F: Giannis Antetokounmpo
- F/C: Joel Embiid
Reserves
- G: Damian Lillard
- G: Donovan Mitchell
- F: Paolo Banchero
- F: Jaylen Brown
- F/C: Bam Adebayo
- WC: Pascal Siakam
- WC: Tyrese Maxey
Snubs: LaMelo Ball, Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Paul George, Scottie Barnes, Trae Young, Jimmy Butler
2025 Western Conference All-Stars
Starters
- G: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
- G: Luka Doncic
- F: LeBron James
- F: Kevin Durant
- F/C: Nikola Jokic
Reserves
- G: Stephen Curry
- G: Anthony Edwards
- F: Anthony Davis
- F: Zion Williamson
- F: Victor Wembanyama
- WC: Ja Morant
- WC: Devin Booker
Snubs: Karl-Anthony Towns, Kyrie Irving, De’Aaron Fox, Kawhi Leonard, Domantas Sabonis, Alperen Sengun, Lauri Markkanen
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