NBA: Updating our picks for the 2020-21 NBA All-Star rosters
Eastern Conference NBA Starters
Backcourt: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics; Kyrie Irving, Brooklyn Nets
One year after Jayson Tatum made the leap from starter to star, his wingman Jaylen Brown has made that leap this season. He is shooting the lights out, including 42.4 percent from 3, and has increased his per-game scoring average by over 6 points. The Celtics have been beset with injuries and absences; Boston has only played three games with Brown, Tatum and Kemba Walker all available. Yet they are still 4th in the East thanks to the growth of Brown.
Speaking of absences, Kyrie Irving certainly hurt his All-Star case and the Nets organization with his extended, unexplained absence. That being said he has been positively brilliant while on the court, with white-hot shooting and huge scoring outbursts. Despite playing alongside two other offensive stars he is averaging a career-high in scoring, and has put up 37 points or more in 25 percent of his games. With no other obvious candidates, he gets the nod alongside Brown.
Frontcourt: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks; Kevin Durant, Brooklyn Nets; Joel Embiid, Philadelphia 76ers
The Greek Freak, Giannis Antetokounmpo, is not having an undisputed MVP season. His numbers are generally down across the board. But his numbers only look bad compared to the last two seasons; compared to the rest of the league, they are still dominant. He is the best player on the team with the league’s best net rating, as he was the last two seasons.
What is different this year is that other players in the Eastern Conference are balling out. Kevin Durant, when he isn’t out due to health-and-safety protocols, is showing no signs of the season missed due to an Achilles injury. Durant has played in 17 games, dropping 29.5 points per game and hitting an impressive 44.9 percent of his 3-pointers.
As great as Durant and Antetokounmpo have been, Joel Embiid might have been better. His Philadelphia 76ers are 17-7, best in the conference, and an even better 16-3 when Embiid plays. The 7-footer is not only protecting the paint but is more active disrupting passing lanes, while on offense he is pouring in a career-high 29.3 points per game, including a huge improvement as an outside shooter. He is the early East favorite for the MVP race and a no-brainer starter for the All-Star Game.