6) Jalen Brunson
New York Knicks guard Jalen Brunson seems like an obvious choice to make his first all-star team this season after his breakout 2022–23 campaign. After being acquired from Dallas, he posted a terrific 24.6 points and 6.1 assists per game last season, helping lead New York to within two games of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Of course, only the first four months of the season counted towards his candidacy, but his play over the entirety of last year certainly turned heads. Better still, Brunson's play has exceeded that level this season by averaging an impressive 25.9 points and 5.9 assists. Therefore, it seems like a safe bet for him to make the East all-star team, even with some tough competition.
To be clear, he probably won't make the team by being voted in as a starter. Instead, the coaches will likely recognize him by offering him a reserve spot on the all-star team. If that happens, that would be all the more impressive since he was selected 34th overall in 2019 by the Mavericks, and it would make him one of only a few second-round picks to make an all-star team.