Top 10 Candidates To Be First-Time All-Stars In 2017

5. DeAndre Jordan

While his game isn’t without it’s warts, DeAndre Jordan has established himself as a force in this league. Last season the Los Angeles Clippers were largely without the services of Blake Griffin.

Despite their star missing time, they barely missed a beat largely due to the tandem of Chris Paul and Jordan. With the San Antonio Spurs going through a transition period, a door may be open for the Clippers to make some noise in the West.

While Jordan may be known for his shot blocking, his offensive game may have even more impact. While his free throws are nothing short of a disaster, his ability to finish in the pick and roll makes him one of the more efficient players in the game.

For the season, Jordan shot 70.3 percent from the floor. After the All-Star break last season, he was nothing short of dominant. After the break, he averaged 13.6 points, 13.6 rebounds and 2.1 blocks on 73.6 percent shooting.

While his free throws are ugly, there’s no denying the threat having Jordan on the floor creates for opposing defenses or the other ways he can impact the game.

If the Clippers core of Paul, Griffin, Jordan and J.J. Redick can stay healthy, they should be a force to be reckoned with in the West. The Spurs will likely take a step back, with the departure of Tim Duncan and more time on the legs of Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili.

Plus it’s well known that Gregg Popovich doesn’t put much stock in the regular season. If the Clippers are in second place in the West, it’s not hard to imagine Jordan getting All-Star recognition for the first time.

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