Five NBA Players Who Will Make Their First All-Star Game this Season

Every season you see a new batch of NBA talent doing their best to climb up the ranks by playing all-star level basketball for the first time in their career. For some guys this jump in play comes in their sophomore season, and for others it could be a decade after they made their NBA debut. Last year we saw six first-time all-stars, and even saw one in Lauri Markkanen crack the Western conference starting lineup. I assume we will have a similar number of first-time members of the league's elite this season, and here is the crop that I think is most likely to accomplish this feat.

Desmond Bane - Memphis Grizzlies - Age: 25

Desmond Bane is entering his fourth season in the league, and it's looking like an all-star appearance is being laid in his lap. Last year the sharpshooting two-guard averaged 21.5 points per game and paired that with 5 rebounds and 4.5 assists a night. He did this on fantastic efficiency, shooting 41% from three, 48% from the field, and 88% from the line. This was all while being the second option on the Grizzlies for the majority of the season. While Grizzlies franchise face Ja Morant was facing his first suspension, Bane was catapulted into the first option position in a flash. During this period he looked like a bonafide all-star as he carried the Memphis offense on his shoulders. Now, with Morant being suspended the first 25 games of the season, I fully expect Bane to flourish. You can expect all of those averages to jump to an elite level. His efficiency may take a hit, but when it comes to all-star voting that isn't the biggest deal. This is the most confident I am in any player that will be on this list, and we all should be buying as much Bane stock as possible.

pc: AP Photo/Brandon Dill

Franz Wagner - Orlando Magic - Age: 22

Franz Wagner is one of my favorite players in the league, and for good reason. Most people would say that the Magic's best player last year was rookie of the year Paolo Banchero, but in reality it may have been Wagner. As the second option he averaged 18.6 points per game 4.1 rebounds and 3.5 assists. He shot 36% from three and 49% from the field, making him the most efficient player on the Magic by far. Wagner is a player that will always be very good, and he's only getting better. Unlike Paolo, he's a reliable player on a nightly basis, and I think as the Magic move closer and closer to a being a legitimate basketball team this reliability will be deemed very valuable. I foresee a significant jump in usage this year for Franz, and if he can maintain his shooting splits at a higher volume I see no reason why he can't be an all-star.

pc: via NBA

Jordan Poole - Washington Wizards - Age: 24

One player in Washington will be an all-star this year, we just have to decide whether it will be Kyle Kuzma or Jordan Poole. There are good reasons for both, but for the time being I have settled on Poole. Last season, as a member of the Warriors, Poole averaged 20.4 points per game, 4.5 assists, and a steal a night. He did this on average splits, shooting 33% from three and 43% from the field. However, he did achieve these numbers as the third, sometimes fourth, option on the team. This offseason he was dealt to the Washington Wizards to team up with Kuzma and a crop of young prospects. I fully expect Poole to be the number one option on offense, and suspect that his point average will jump to somewhere around 26 or 27 points per game. That alone should put his name in the race for the all-star game, but there are a few issues. Firstly, the Wizards are not going to be a good basketball team, they aren't even going to be a decent basketball team. Second, there's a good chance that Kuzma is the player who blossoms into an all-star this year. Finally, with the good comes the bad, and there's a chance that Poole's poor turnover numbers get worse with enhanced usage. The stars may have to align, but I think Poole has a good shot at making it.

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Deandre Ayton - Portland Trail Blazers - Age: 25

Deandre Ayton is a player who should've made an all-star game by now. His problem has been that he's found himself on a team that has had multiple all-stars every year, all of whom deserved the honor more than him. He's found a ton of team success in his first few years, but his personal legacy has suffered. Now he finds himself on a new team, a team that's filled to the brim with young prospects. Not only will he be the veteran in the locker room at only 25, he will be by far the best big man on the team. Last year, as a fourth option, he averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds, and a block a night. He shot around 60% from the field, with a lot of his attempts coming from mid-range. He's hovered around these numbers his entire career, but now I expect him to explode for a huge season in Portland. He's been begging for a new home for years, and now he's finally getting his chance to show the league what he's really made of.

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Josh Giddey - Oklahoma City Thunder - Age: 21

The youngest player on this list, I am extremely high on Josh Giddey. When most people look at this Thunder team they are focused on SGA, Holmgren, or even Jalen Williams, but Giddey is the second best player on this team. This is a Thunder team that WILL have two all-stars this year, and I think Giddey takes that second spot. In only his second season he averaged 16.6 points, 6.2 assists, and 8 rebounds a night. He did this on solid splits, numbers which got significantly better from his rookie season to his sophomore campaign. His three point percentage needs work, but it did get better his second year which shows he is improving over time. He'll be the second or maybe third option on offense, the primary facilitator, and will throw in 8 or so rebounds a night in there too. He may not be the most flashy player on this team, but he very well may be the most important player for them if they hope to make a serious playoff push. He's a great young player, and he's only getting better.

pc: Sue Ogrocki/Associated Press