Thunder Journal: JDub for All-Star
Is Jalen Williams an All Star?
Before I attempt to answer, let’s check in with someone far more qualified than your friendly neighborhood Daily Thunder beat reporter on this matter.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander:“I think it’d only be right for him to be an All Star. You don’t have this record because of one All Star. You have to have a team, a collective, a second All Star, a very talented basketball player to help. A lot of times I’m out of the game, and he’s carrying the load offensively. He averages 20 on hyper efficiency and we are first in the West. And because of that, I think his case should be sealed. But hey, that’s just my opinion.”
Thanks, Shai. I suppose since I’m writing this journal, I’ll throw in my two cents as well.
Making an All Star team is tough. Making an All Star team in the stacked West is really tough. Making an All Star team for the first time as a team’s second best player in the stacked West is really tough. But JDub has a strong case.
First of all, it’s a numbers game. Only 12 players make the squad. Four guards. Six frontcourt players. Two wildcards.
Time for some fun with math!
The guards have three locks: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Steph Curry and Anthony Edwards.
The frontcourt has five locks: Nikola Jokic, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Victor Wembanyama.
Quick side bar: Luka Doncic’s unfortunate injury opens up one typically locked spot.
So that leaves four open spots: one guard, one frontcourt and two wildcards.
There are 10 realistic candidates for those four spots: Ja Morant, Kyrie Irving, James Harden, Jaren Jackson Jr., De’Aaron Fox, Domantas Sabonis, Alperen Sengun, Devin Booker, Norman Powell and JDub.
Let’s do our due diligence and dissect each case one by one.
Ja Morant
21.3 PTS/4.3 REB/7.5 AST/1.2 STL/.3 BLK/44.5 FG%/30.3 3PT%/55.5 TS%
Pros: 2X All Star. Best player on the #3 seed. Human highlight reel. Superstar name.
Cons: Has only played 25 of 43 games. Could argue JJJ has been more impactful.
Verdict: Doubtful. He’s missed too many games.
Kyrie Irving
24.2 PTS/4.5 REB/4.8 AST/1.3 STL/.4 BLK/48.0 FG%/43.0 3PT%/60.0 TS%
Pros: 8X All Star. Great numbers. Keeping Mavs afloat with Luka out.
Cons: Numbers are good.. but good enough to make the cut in this field? Does the #7 seed’s second best player deserve a spot?
Verdict: Probable. Name appeal + good numbers + rewarding the Mavs with Luka out.
