This should be the NBA All-Star Team based on Advanced Statistics

There are only 12 players that will make it in both conferences, so great players will get snubbed.

Advanced Statistics that are discussed in this article are provided by Statmuse.com, NBA.com, and ESPN.com and are accurate as of January 20th, 2022.

There will be a lot of snubs for this year’s game, there is certainly no denying that. In one of the most competitive seasons in recent memory, so many players from each team are showing out every night that it’s almost impossible to pick just five starters and seven reserves for each conference.

To make it even harder, the committee will try to be even with the frontcourt and backcourt players, making it harder on the talented guards in both conferences to garner a selection.

So how did I decide which players deserve to make the All-Star Game this season? What was my formula? Well, before even mentioning the advanced statistics, I looked at team records and which players had the biggest impact on their teams’ wins (traditional points, +-, rebounds, assists).

After that, I looked into each prospective All-Star candidate’s PER (Player Efficiency Rating), eFG% (Effective Field Goal Percentage), TS% (True Shooting Percentage), and traditional defensive statistics. I will explain after the All-Star picks why certain players did not meet the criteria.

Eastern Conference Starters: 

PG: Trae Young, Atlanta Hawks

Yes, the Hawks aren’t a good basketball team, but Young’s statistics both traditional and advanced are impossible to overlook and it would be disrespectful for him not to be an All-Star Starter. Young is averaging 27.9 points, 9.5 assists, and 1 steal per game to go along with a TS% of 58.9 and a 3PT% of 37.2. Young also has the eighth-best PER in the NBA at 25.11, which furthers his case of being an All-Star starter.

Young’s eFG% of 52.3 isn’t great, but every other advanced statistic of Young’s is fantastic and he is having his best season yet. Even though the Hawks don’t have a good record, Young still has led them to become the third-best offensive team in the NBA this season. I would be surprised if someone else is the starting point guard for the Eastern Conference.

SG: DeMar DeRozan, Chicago Bulls

This is one of the easiest selections here as DeRozan is 1st in clutch shots in the NBA, is averaging 25.7 points per game, and is the leader of this Bulls team that is the third-best team in the Eastern Conference. DeRozan’s TS% of 57.3 is also great, even with his average eFG% of 50. DeRozan also has the 16th ranked PER in the NBA of 22.48.

This selection is purely based on what DeRozan has done for this team late in games, the advanced stats don’t love him, but DeRozan’s impact on the Bulls is paralleled by very few players in the NBA this season.

SF: Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets

Do I have to explain why Kevin Durant is an All-Star this season? He has the fifth-best PER in the NBA of 26.23, is averaging 29.3 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 5.8 assists per game with a TS% of 62.6 and an eFG% of 56.6. One of the most efficient and high-usage players in the NBA, the only player other than Durant averaging 27+ points with this kind of efficiency is LeBron James.

Durant will miss 4-6 more weeks with an MCL sprain, but once he is back, the league will be put on notice again. Either way, even with the time he is going to miss, Durant deserves to and will be an All-Star starter. That means 13 players as of right now will make it in the Eastern Conference, not 12 due to Durant’s injury.

PF: Giannis Antetoukopumpo, Milwaukee Bucks

The Greek Freak has had his second-best year yet statistically so far in his career (second to his 2nd MVP season, and better than his 1st MVP season), yet only in the past couple of weeks, media members have been discussing whether he should win the MVP award or not.

Other than maybe Nikola Jokic or LeBron James, the Greek Freak has arguably the best argument for the award. Antetokounmpo has the second-best PER in the NBA of 31.19 and has impacted his team in so many ways.

With the Milwaukee Bucks being 4th in the Eastern Conference, Antetokounmpo is averaging 28.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game with an eFG% of 56.2 and a TS% of 61.3. Antetokounmpo is also averaging 1.5 blocks and 1 steal per game.

C: Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers

Embiid has been an absolute monster this season with the third-best PER in the NBA of 29.56, 28 points, 10.6 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.1 steals per game an eFG% of 52.9, and a TS% of 61.2.

The 76ers didn’t win many games when Joel Embiid was out earlier this season and now they have won 11 out of their last 13 games with Embiid at his best averaging over 33 points and 10 rebounds during that stretch.

In fact, Embiid put up 50 points in 27 minutes Wednesday night against the Orlando Magic. The 76ers are 5th in the Eastern Conference right now, and if they continue to rise up the ranks, Embiid should continue to garner serious MVP consideration as he has the advanced metrics to back it up.

Reserves:

G: James Harden, Brooklyn Nets  

Harden is not having his best scoring year (22.6 points per game, shooting 33.5% from 3PT range with an eFG% 49.1 is abysmal for a player of his caliber), but he is still one of the three best playmakers in the NBA and is averaging 10 assists per game, which is tied for the NBA lead with Chris Paul.

The Nets are the second-best team in the Eastern Conference and wouldn’t be where they are at without James Harden, despite his shooting struggles. Harden still has the 20th ranked PER of 21.89, and also is averaging 8 rebounds a game, which furthers his case to be an NBA All-Star. I just don’t think he is as efficient as Trae Young, otherwise, he would have gotten my nod as the starting point guard.

G: LaMelo Ball, Charlotte Hornets

Ball is a jack of all trades averaging 19.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 7.7 assists, and 1.6 steals per game with an eFG% of 50.1 and a TS% of 53.7. The advanced shooting metrics aren’t great, but LaMelo’s ability to impact all facets of the game and help his team even without shooting brilliantly from the floor shows you what kind of player he is already even at just 20 years old.

His 20.64 PER is 28th in the NBA and the Hornets have the 7th seed in the Eastern Conference on lock right now with a four-game lead over the Raptors. Fred VanVleet, Darius Garland, and Ball were the guys on the cusp for me, but I picked winning over everything so Garland and Ball got the edge, even though VanVleet is amazing.

C: Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers  

Some of you reading this may be wondering why Allen is an All-Star, but he has some of the best-advanced statistics in all of basketball! Averaging 16.3 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks with a TS% of 71.2%, Allen is dominating on both ends of the floor and has helped the Cavs become a top 6 team in the Eastern Conference.

Allen’s PER of 23.51 ranks 12th in the NBA, and I would have put Allen in as a starter had it not been for Jeol Embiid being in his way. He is the first reserve off the bench based on advanced stats and it would be a terrible mistake and lack of understanding of what an All-Star is if Allen doesn’t make the team.

G: Darius Garland, Cleveland Cavaliers

Another guy that has helped the Cavaliers soar to the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference is Darius Garland, who is averaging 19.8 points, 8 assists, and 1.3 steals per game with an eFG% of 54.9 and a TS% of 58.

Garland doesn’t have an elite PER of 18.47 as it ranks 50th in the NBA, but all of his other advanced statistics point to him being selected as a first-time All-Star.

Garland also had 18 assists the other day and a Triple-Double the game before that, and if he continues to play well alongside fellow first-time All-Star Jarrett Allen, the Cavaliers will be in good shape to not only make the playoffs but win a playoff series.

G: Fred VanVleet, Toronto Raptors

This was the replacement selection of Kevin Durant. I could have gone with Jayson Tatum or fellow Raptor Pascal Siakam here, but the Raptors wouldn’t be even close to .500 without VanVleet who is one of the best defensive players in the league (1.6 steals per game, leads the league in ball deflections, and is an elite on-ball and perimeter defender).

VanVleet also boasts averages of 21.8 points, 6.8 assists, and 4.8 rebounds with an eFG% of 53.7 and a 3PT% of 39.9. VanVleet’s PER is 19.35, which ranks 39th in the NBA this season. This Raptors team runs on VanVleet and he deserves to be a first-time All-Star because of his elite abilities on both ends of the floor and the way he impacts his team.

G: Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls

I was thinking of selecting Lonzo Ball instead of LaVine as the Bulls’ second All-Star, but LaVine has way better statistics and has impacted his team almost as much if not more than Lonzo Ball.

LaVine is averaging 24.9 points per game with an eFG% of 57.2, a TS% of 61.3, and a 3PT% of 41.2, all of which are some of the best statistics in the NBA this season. The Bulls also have the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference at the moment (as that could change literally at any time right now), and hopefully, he will be healthy for the game. Otherwise, Jayson Tatum will take his place.

F: Jimmy Butler, Miami Heat

Butler has missed a ton of time this season, but there had to be at least one All-Star selected from the 29-16 Miami Heat who are tied for 1st in the Eastern Conference. What is surprising is that this Heat team was able to flourish even without Butler and Bam Adebayo, who missed a lot of time over the past couple of months, especially Adebayo.

Omer Yurtseven, Max Strus, Tyler Herro, and P.J. Tucker among others all stepped up and kept this team dominant in their absence. Now at full strength, this team is looking like it could be the best team in the Eastern Conference right now and Butler is their best player averaging 21.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 5.8 assists, and 1.9 steals per game with an eFG% of 49.9 and a TS% of 59.3.

Yes, the eFG% is not ideal for a player of his caliber, but Butler is still a Triple-Double machine who is also one of the best defenders in the NBA as well. He is an absolute lock to be an All-Star and if he has a big second half and the Heat continue to win, then Butler could catapult himself into the MVP race.

F: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Tatum is an NBA Superstar but has been slightly worse than his Celtics Co-Star Jaylen Brown this season, which is why Brown edges out Tatum for an All-Star selection. Advanced metrics favor Brown who is averaging almost the same amount of PPG as Tatum (Brown 24.1, Tatum 25.2), almost as many RPG (Brown 6.8, Tatum 8.5), and is a way better defender than Tatum and more efficient from the field than him as well.

Brown has an eFG% of 53.7, a TS% of 56.6, a 3PT% of 36, and is averaging 1.2 steals per game while Tatum has an eFG% of 47.7, a TS% of 53.2, a 3PT% of 31.7, and is averaging 1 steal per game. Brown has been better than Tatum this season, and it is sad that Tatum will get selected over him due to Tatum being a more household name and having a more popular media presence.

Western Conference Starters: 

PG: Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors  

Curry hadn’t been playing as well as he did in the first two months of the season until last night when he scored 39 points against the Pacers (although he went 0-3 in overtime and the Warriors lost). Curry has gone through mini shooting slumps on and off over the past month and a half, and with Draymond Green missing time due to injury, the Warriors have had a tough time winning when Curry isn’t at his best.

Averaging 26.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 6.3 assists with an eFG% of 54.5, a TS% of 59.1, and a 3PT% of 38.4, Curry still has some of the best-advanced statistics in the NBA, even with the miserable shooting nights he has put up over the past month.

Curry is also an improved defender, having the third-best defensive player rating in the NBA this season. However, this is largely due to him being on the best defensive team in the league where every player that logs serious minutes is top 10-15 in player defensive rating.

Nonetheless, Curry has still been impacting his team as much as anyone in the league. The Warriors are 2nd in the Western Conference, but desperately need Curry to build off of his game against the Pacers and for Green to come back soon to catch the scorching-hot Suns in the Western Conference.

SG: Ja Morant, Memphis Grizzlies  

Morant edges out Chris Paul because of his statistics and that the Grizzlies have the 3rd seed in the Western Conference largely due to him. Paul is fantastic, but also has stars Devin Booker and Deandre Ayton beside him to win games.

Morant is averaging 24.7 points, 5.8 rebounds, 6.9 assists, and 1.3 steals per game with an eFG% of 52.7, a TS% of 57.2, and a much-improved 3PT% of 35.8 (last year Morant was just over 30%). Morant also owns the 10th best PER in the NBA of 24.57, and is in the conversation for the MVP award.

SF: LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers  

As I mentioned in my last Baller Sports Dialogue article that I published which discussed the NBA Power Rankings, LeBron James is having one of the best statistical seasons ever, not just for a player his age. Averaging 28.8 points, 7.6 rebounds, 6.4 assists, 1.6 steals, 1.1 blocks per game with an eFG% of 58.6 and a TS% of 61.6, James’ advanced shooting percentages are insanely productive for a non-big man since he is taking 7.8 3PT attempts per game, which is by far the most of his career thus far. James 36.4% from 3PT range would be his 4th best in his career, and his 28.8 points per game would be his 3rd best in his coveted career as well. 

LeBron James is the only player in the NBA this season averaging over 28 points, 6 3PT attempts, with an eFG% of over 58. To add onto analyzing James’ historic season, his PER of 27.36 ranks 4th in the NBA and is only slightly behind NBA leader Nikola Jokic’s PER of 32.95. 

James is in the MVP conversation even though his team is terrible. Although it may be his fault that he helped put this terrible team together, he also is having one of his most productive years ever in the midst of chaos in the Lakers organization.

PF: Karl Anthony-Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves  

Towns won’t be voted in as a starter, but he should be. The Timberwolves have the 7th seed in the Western Conference and Towns is averaging 24.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, 1.1 steals, and 1.2 blocks per game with an eFG% of 58.5 and a TS% of 62.9.

Towns is also one of the best 3PT shooting big men in the NBA with a 3PT% of 40.8. Towns PER is 23.37 ranking 13th in the NBA this season so far. Towns should be rewarded with a starter spot, but will only get a reserve spot due to fan voting.

C: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets  

Jokic is having the best-advanced statistics season of any player in the history of the NBA averaging 25.9 points, 13.9 rebounds, 7.4 assists, and 1.4 steals per game with an eFG% of 61.2 and a TS% of 64.6. Jokic is on pace to accumulate the best PER of all time and it stands at 32.95 right now.

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Wilt Chamberlain are the only two players to come even close to Jokic’s efficiency this season, and Jokic is doing this without Jamaal Murray and Michael Porter Jr., among some other key players as well.

Jokic is the starting center for the Western Conference and is having a better season statistically than he had last season where he won the MVP. The Nuggets aren’t a great team, but they are a playoff team because of Nikola Jokic.

RESERVES: 

F: Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors

Draymond Green’s averages of 7.9 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 7.4 assists per game won’t jump off the table to you, but his 1.4 steals and 1.2 blocks per game to go along with being the #1 rated defensive player in the league when he is on the floor this season will. He has been the engine to this Warriors team’s #1 ranked defense and continues to impact the game defensively more than anyone in the NBA.

He can guard the perimeter at an elite level and the interior, all at only 6-5. He also owns an eFG% of 56.7, which is very impressive for a weaker 3PT shooter in Green. Nonetheless, the Warriors deserve 2 All-Stars at least and Green gets the edge over Wiggins for what he does defensively.

C: Deandre Ayton, Phoenix Suns  

Ayton is not your prototypical All-Star and has missed a ton of time due to injuries. Nonetheless, Ayton has been a big key in why the Suns have an NBA-best 35-9 record as he is averaging 16.8 points and 10.6 rebounds with an eFG% of 64 and a TS% of 65.6.

Even though his 0.8 Blocks per game don’t show it, Ayton is one of the best interior defenders as it is hard for any big man he faces to match up with him in the post. Ayton will only improve as he recovers from injury and as the year goes on. Because of his efficiency and the Suns’ record, Ayton gets my vote.

G: Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns

Booker was a fringe All-Star just two weeks ago, but he has come out of his mini-slump in a big way averaging 27.3 points. Bookers efficiency hasn’t been bad at all (51.4 eFG% and 56.2 TS%, 39.3 3PT%), and his ability to score at will has helped the Suns reach the heights they have already reached this season.

Booker is averging 24.6 points on the season overall, but if the last two weeks are any indictation of the rest of this season, Booker will finish with a much higher scoring average than he has now.

G: Chris Paul, Phoenix Suns

Chris Paul is an advanced statistics gem as his assist to turnover ratio is #1 in the NBA and he leads the NBA in steals (1.9) and assists (10) on the season as well. His 52.1 eFG% and 56.2 TS% are great as well, and Paul’s PER of 20.32 is 33rd in the NBA this season and improving game by game. Paul’s ability to create for his teammates without turning the ball over make this team lethal, which is why they have the best record in the NBA.

Paul is also still an elite on ball defender who plays like its his last every single game, and his leadership and playmaking are the #1 reason why the Suns are the best teamn in the NBA. He would be an All-Star starter if not for Ja Morant and Stephen Curry.

C: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz  

Say what you want about Gobert in the playoffs, but Gober in the regular season has been amazing for years. Gobert is the most efficient player in the NBA this season with averages of 15.9 points, 15 rebounds, and 2.3 blocks with an eFG% of 71.3, a TS% of 73.2, and a PER of 25.48, the 6th best in the NBA this season.

Gobert has helped the Jazz become a top 12 defense and the #1 offense in the NBA this season. Gobert has simply been fantastic this season and even though we know that he probably won’t be this good in the playoffs, he is still good in the regular season and that deserves to be rewarded with an All-Star selection.

G: Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz  

Donovan Mitchell has the best offensive rating in the NBA this season, although this statistic is slightly misleading considering he is the best offensive player on the best offense in the NBA this season as well.

Regardless, Mitchell has put together a fantastic season thus far, not only leading the Jazz to become the #1 ranked offense and having the best eFG% of any team in the NBA, but also averaging 25.5 points, 5.2 assists, and 1.6 steals per game, with an eFG% of 52.8 and a TS% of 56.6. Mitchell’s PER of 21.91 ranks 20th in the NBA and the Jazz have the 4th seed in the Western Conference right now.

G/F: Luka Doncic, Dallas Mavericks

Doncic puts up numbers, plain and simple. His averages of 25.2 points, 8.8 rebounds, 8.7 assists, and 1.2 steals per game are fantastic, but Doncic has also always struggled with efficiency (48.9 eFG% and 53.2 TS% this season).

Even with his inefficiencies, Doncic has the Mavericks as the 5th seed in the Western Conference and is still one of the top 10 players in the NBA undisputedly, and only because of Chris Paul’s great assist to turnover ratio and Morant’s rise to superstardom have kept him from being an All-Star starter this season.

Players that just missed this list:

Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics

Bradley Beal, Washington Wizards

Domantas Sabonis, Indiana Pacers

Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves

Andrew Wiggins, Golden State Warriors

Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies

Dejounte Murray, San Antonio Spurs

Jusuf Nurkic, Portland Trailblazers

Kristaps Porzingis, Dallas Mavericks