10 candidates to be first-time NBA All-Stars in 2018-19

With a new season approaching, here’s a look at 10 players likely to make their first All-Star appearance in the 2019 NBA All-Star Game.

With nothing but time to kill over the last few weeks, Hoops Habit has taken an extensive look at the various sections of the NBA food chain. We’ve looked at candidates for breakout seasons, young players who need to break out, relative unknowns entering seasons that could define their place in the league, and guys looking to bounce-back in 2018-19.

We’ve also looked at the other end of the spectrum, with candidates for regression, injury-prone players trying to shed that label, and players who may be on their last chance to stay in the league beyond this season. The NBA is cyclical, and all the various parts of it are worth examining.

However, outside of the established superstars and bona fide title contenders, the best part of the NBA is watching talented youngsters rise to prominence as they guys claiming “next.” From Most Improved Player winners to first-time MVPs to rising phenoms, the league is always looking toward the next best thing who will take over and cement his name among the all-time greats.

Entering the 2018-19 campaign, the NBA has arguably never been in a better place on that front. Anthony Davis and Giannis Antetokounmpo are just the two most prominent names competing for the title of the NBA’s next alpha dog, and already a new wave of superstars is making basketball more watchable on a nightly basis — even for the tankers and lottery teams.

The question is, which of these rising stars will earn their first All-Star selections this season? Although All-NBA honors are more prestigious (and, as such, should be placed on an NBA player’s resume before All-Star selections when comparing careers), they only honor 15 elite players.

There’s still something magical about All-Star Weekend, where the best of the best from both conferences gather to try and show the fans a good time. Even with the vast talent discrepancy between the Western Conference and the Eastern Conference, there are tons of great players looking to crack an All-Star roster for the first time.

With the 2019 NBA All-Star Game taking place in Charlotte, it’s time to take a look at 10 young players who might punch their ticket to North Carolina as first-time All-Stars based on individual talent, their role with their respective teams and their projected team success.

Honorable Mentions: Mike Conley, Zach LaVine, Lou Williams, CJ McCollum, Jaylen Brown, Hassan Whiteside, Andrew Wiggins, Markelle Fultz, Jamal Murray, Luka Doncic, Lonzo Ball, D’Angelo Russell, Tobias Harris, Gary Harris, Josh Richardson, Lauri Markkanen, Julius Randle