NBA: 5 Rising stars that stood out in first wave of All-Star voting

NBA All-Star #4: Austin Reaves G , Los Angeles Lakers

A rough start to the new campaign concerned Lakers fans were anticipating the team’s fresh start. Five consecutive losses placed Los Angeles at the bottom of the standings, and in the middle of heated media discussions. Darwin Ham’s roster lacked lethal shooters – adding additional pressure on the frontcourt.

With Anthony Davis battling injuries throughout the season, Los Angeles needed a scorer who could contribute to the scoreboard. On November 11th, the Lakers found a playmaker willing to answer the call. Austin Reaves helped the Lakers defeat the Nets 116-103. No.15 knocked down three of four three-point attempts – adding a new dimension to a struggling offense. Since then, the Lakers are in a better place thanks to Austin’s contributions – resulting in 144,520 All-Star Votes.

NBA All-Star #3: Tyrese Haliburton G, Indiana Pacers

An impressive first half of the regular season validates Tyrese Haliburton as an All-Star. His 281,691 votes rank eighth among guards in the Eastern Conference. Indiana’s third-year ball handler is the glue to Rick Carlisle’s starting five.

The Pacers are 21-18, sitting in seventh place in the conference standings. Victories against the Celtics, Cavaliers, and Clippers keep the Pacers at the center of conversation, leading analysts to believe this team is primed for the post-season.

Haliburton is ranked first in assists (10.2) and contributes roughly twenty points a night to the team’s point total. A hot stretch of games before Christmas allowed “No. 0” to become more of a household name. He scored 76 points combined against the Boston Celtics and Miami Heat, resulting in wins for his squad.

NBA All-Star #2: Kyle Kuzma F, Washington Wizards

If the playoffs began today, the Wizards would qualify for the play-in tournament, an improvement from their final seeding last season. Bradley Beal and Kristaps Porzingis lead the team in scoring, but assistance from a former Laker is helping Washington sneak up on conference opponents.

Kyle Kuzma’s presence on the hardwood makes a difference for the Wizards. His skill set creates mismatches against smaller forwards, who struggle to keep up with his various ways of scoring.

This season, Kuzma is ranked sixth among small forwards in scoring (21.3), providing value in clutch moments for his team. His experiences playing next to LeBron James taught him leadership skills that have helped the Wizards win six of their last seven games.