A way-too-early prediction of five first-time NBA All-Stars in 2023-24

Future NBA All-Star #4: Kyle Kuzma

This one might catch some people by surprise. However, since joining the Washington Wizards, Kuzma has taken his game to the next level.

2022-2023 NBA Stats:

• 21.4 PPG, 7.6 RPG, 3.9 APG, 0.5 SPG, 0.5 BPG, 45.1% FG, 33.7% 3PT, 71.9% FT

NBA Insider Shams Charania has reported multiple times about the direction of the Wizards team with the intent of Kyle Kuzma being a part of it:

"“This is a guy that you want to continue to build around because you know that there’s a price threshold you’re gonna have to get to to retain him,” Charania said. “They want Kuzma to work. They want this Big 3 that they formed to be formidable in the East.”"

This season, Kuzma has started to get the playing time and shot opportunities of a guy that Washington envisions as the first option for the future. As they still hover around the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference and Kuzma is still just 27 years old, the likelihood of another progressive season following this one for the power forward is pretty high.

Future NBA All-Star #3: Mikal Bridges

If the Phoenix Suns could remove one piece from the trade that brought them, Kevin Durant, it would be the ability to keep Mikal Bridges with the team.

The small forward was already having the best season of his career prior to the trade, but with Brooklyn buying into a new age focused around a younger core, Bridges will be the center of attention with that group.

Additionally, this new Nets team is incredibly deep. There are plenty of three-point shooters and defensive-minded players with high energy on this Brooklyn team. The potential for them to be in a position to warrant a 2024 NBA All-Star is still plausible.