DENVER, CO – JANUARY 21: Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies reacts against the Denver Nuggets at Ball Arena on January 21, 2022 in Denver, Colorado, 4 youngsters who could make their first NBA All-Star game. 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 Ethan Mito/Clarkson Creative/Getty Images)
The NBA All-Star Game features twenty-four of the league’s best players. The group is selected by fan votes, current player votes, votes from the media, and votes from the 30 NBA coaches.
Many of these players are experienced All-Stars who have already received the honor more than once – Stephen Curry, Lebron James, and Kevin Durant, for example. This season, though, at the All-Star Game in Cleveland, a couple of younger players have the chance to make their first All-Star appearance.
*Stats valid as of January 22
Youngsters who could make their first NBA All-Star game: 1. Ja Morant
The Memphis Grizzlies’ 22-year-old point guard is currently in second place in the Western Conference Guard fan voting, right behind Curry. It is only his third season in the NBA, but the former number two draft pick made a huge improvement in his game this year.
He is putting up averages of 24.7 points, 5.8 rebounds and 6.9 assists as he leads the Memphis Grizzlies to one of their best seasons in a while. The only other players who are currently averaging at least twenty-four points, five rebounds and six assists are Stephen Curry, LeBron James, Luka Doncic, and Nikola Jokic.
Considering this jump from his averages last season (19.1 points, 7.4 assists, and 4.0 rebounds) and the fact that he is scoring impressively in the paint for a player of his size and build, Morant is a valid candidate for the Most Improved Player award this season.
Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green, for one, believes that with his athleticism, speed, and explosiveness Morant is above that, however. Green thinks Morant should be considered for the Most Valuable Player award instead.
The competition in the Western Conference’s guard category is fierce but with his current performances on the court and amount of fan votes after the third return (2,623,359) Ja Morant’s chances to make his first All-Star appearance as a starter look pretty good.
Golden State Warriors star Draymond Green</a>, for one, believes that with his athleticism, speed, and explosiveness Morant is above that, however. Green thinks Morant <a href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/26/youngsters-nba-all-star-game/"https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/19/ja-morant-mvp/">should be considered for the Most Valuable Player award</a> instead.</p>
<p>The competition in the Western Conference’s guard category is fierce but with his current performances on the court and amount of fan votes after the third return (2,623,359) Ja Morant’s chances to make his first All-Star appearance as a starter look pretty good.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/26/youngsters-nba-all-star-game/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Player #2 </a>
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<img class="wp-image-441147 size-full" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/26/youngsters-nba-all-star-game/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1366516075.jpeg" alt="4 youngsters who could make their first NBA All-Star game" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1366516075.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1366516075-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – JANUARY 23: LaMelo Ball #2 of the Charlotte Hornets reacts after being called for a technical foul in the third quarter during their game against the Atlanta Hawks at Spectrum Center on January 23, 2022 in Charlotte, North Carolina, 4 youngsters who could make their first NBA All-Star game. 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 Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Youngsters who could make their first NBA All-Star game: 2. LaMelo Ball</h2>
<p>The Charlotte Hornets’ point guard is currently in his second NBA season after being picked third overall in the 2020 NBA Draft. Averaging 15.7 points, 6.1 assists, and 5.9 rebounds last season he was voted NBA Rookie of the Year.</p>
<p>Since then, he has pumped up his averages to 19.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 7.7 assists while recording a 41.9 field goal percentage, 37.2 3-pointer percentage, and an 88.3 free-throw percentage.</p>
<p>These stats show a huge improvement from his rookie season, and he also managed to lower his number of turnovers. Ball is making enormous contributions to the Hornets’ journey, as they are on their way to what might just be their first playoff appearance since the 2016 season.</p>
<p>Ball already recorded three triple-doubles so far this season, making him one of ten players with multiple triple-doubles this season. He is currently in fifth place in the Eastern Conference’s fan voting, trailing behind James Harden, Zach Lavine, Trae Young, and Demar Derozan.</p>
<p>The youngster is facing some harsh competition in these players but still has a chance to be a reserve in the All-Star Game in February. If the Hornets continue to succeed, those chances will skyrocket, too.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/26/youngsters-nba-all-star-game/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Player #3 </a>
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<img class="size-full wp-image-441148" src=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/26/youngsters-nba-all-star-game/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2133,w_3200/http%3A%2F%2Fhoopshabit.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1362459694.jpeg" alt="4 youngsters who could make their first NBA All-Star game" width="3200" height="2133" srcset="https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1362459694.jpeg 3200w, https://hoopshabit.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1362459694-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img">
<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">CLEVELAND, OHIO – JANUARY 02: Jarrett Allen #31 of the Cleveland Cavaliers celebrates after scoring during the third quarter against the Indiana Pacers at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse on January 02, 2022 in Cleveland, Ohio. The Cavaliers defeated the Pacers 108-104, 4 youngsters who could make their first NBA All-Star game. 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 Jason Miller/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Youngsters who could make their first NBA All-Star game: 3. Jarrett Allen</h2>
<p>The 23-year-old Center for the Cleveland Cavaliers is making his quiet All-Star case by averaging 16.3 points and 10.9 rebounds this season while shooting 69.5 from the field.</p>
<p>With a strong team of young players, the Cavaliers are sitting at the fifth seed in the Eastern Conference with a streak of five consecutive wins and currently have the third-best defense in the entire league.</p>
<p>Allen is not only contributing to this success offensively but is especially important for the team’s defensive prowess. He averages 11.5 contested shots per game and is developing into one of the most dangerous rim protectors in the NBA. Allen will also likely be a candidate for an All-Defensive team.</p>
<p>The young big man, who is often underrated and probably one of the most unexpected All-Star candidates, is also in the running for the Most Improved Player award.</p>
<p>Due to his improvement and recent performances, Allen is in sixth place in the Eastern Conference’s frontcourt fan voting. He is competing with experienced All-Stars such as Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Emiid though, which will make it challenging to score a spot on the team.</p>
<p>Allen will not be a starter, but his chances of being a reserve, wildcard, or injury replacement are real, especially considering the game is in Cleveland.</p>
<div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background:#bb2c32" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://hoopshabit.com/2022/01/26/youngsters-nba-all-star-game/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Player #4 </a>
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<p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JANUARY 18: Anthony Edwards #1 of the Minnesota Timberwolves dribbles during the first half against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on January 18, 2022 in New York City, 4 youngsters who could make their first NBA All-Star game. 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 Sarah Stier/Getty Images)</p>
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<h2>Youngsters who could make their first NBA All-Star game: 4. Anthony Edwards</h2>
<p>The number one pick in the 2020 NBA Daft is already making history in only his second NBA season. Edwards is now the youngest player ever to hit ten three-pointers in a single game and only the seventh player to score 2,000 points at age 20 or younger, joining legends like LeBron James and Kyrie Irving.</p>
<p>The Minnesota Timberwolves guard already averages 22.2 points, 5.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists, leads the team in steals, and is guiding the Minnesota Timberwolves to one of their best seasons yet.</p>
<p>Besides having boatloads of confidence for such a young player, Edwards also shows off his incredible athleticism on a daily basis as he regularly creates some new dunks for the highlight reel. Thanks to his speed and explosiveness, he averages 11.9 drives per game.</p>
<p>Edwards currently only ranks 10th in the Western Conference Guard fan voting, but the youngster has what it takes to be an All-Star and has realistic chances to be named a reserve or injury replacement by the league’s coaches.</p>
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