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3 NBA players who could be first-time All-Stars this year

By Luke Duffy

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at Chase Center on October 28, 2021 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - OCTOBER 28: Jordan Poole #3 of the Golden State Warriors is guarded by Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at Chase Center on October 28, 2021 in San Francisco, California. 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 Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /
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NBA Players
MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE – NOVEMBER 15: Kevin Porter Jr. #3 of the Houston Rockets and Ja Morant #12 of the Memphis Grizzlies during the first half at FedExForum on November 15, 2021 in Memphis, Tennessee. 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 Justin Ford/Getty Images) /

3 NBA players who could be first-time All-Stars this year: 3. Ja Morant

Let’s start with the most obvious player on the list. Ja Morant of the Memphis Grizzlies came into the NBA as a player who most thought could be extremely special. A disciple of the Russell Westbrook school of point guard play. Aggression and energy all of the time, assaulting the basket at every available opportunity.

As a second overall pick (and one who has had a better career so far than Zion Williamson, taken first in that draft class), Morant is right now making the kind of ascension that was always in the cards for him. The Grizzlies were frisky last season, and although they’ve stumbled a bit this year, Morant has looked like a top 10 player in the league at times.

Career highs of 25.1 points on 36.8 percent from deep have opened the floor up for Morant offensively. A field goal percentage of 49.7 percent is also the best mark of his career. Perhaps most impressively of all, ranking 10th in the whole league in Player Efficiency Rating (25.05) shows that these are far more than empty stats.

Morant is crucial to the Grizzlies winning and making the playoffs, and as the best player on a team currently sitting in a play-in tournament spot, he is sure to get the call to play at the All-Star game when the time comes.

He’s popular with the more casual fans, is going to have the Grizzlies higher up the standings by the time voting closes, and appears to be popular with coaches and fellow NBA players as well.

To have also kept the Grizzlies afloat while key players like Dillon Brooks and even De’Anthony Melton have missed some time is also impressive. Jonas Valanciunas has been missed inside, too, with opponents game planning a lot for the Morant. Despite this, he is playing the best basketball of his career, and if we’re being honest, should be in the Most Improved Player discussion as well.