Already? Yes, already. The fantasy basketball season has almost reached its midway point, which means the All-Star break is coming up in a few weeks. If there was a fantasy basketball all-star game, who would make the cut? Here are the players who would get votes on my ballot. Keep in mind each team has starters consisting of two guards, two forwards and one center, while reserves consist of two guards, two forwards and one center, plus two players of any position.
Western Conference:
Starters:
PG – Chris Paul (LAC): While CP3 is out with a shoulder injury, and has been for a couple of weeks now, you can’t take away from his first half performance. The best point guard in the NBA is averaging 19.6 points, 11.2 assists and 2.4 steals per game. Did I mention he shoots 87 percent from the stripe to go along with a solid 4.6 rebounds per game? He’s got my vote.
SG – Stephen Curry (GS): Coming off a stellar playoff performance last season, Curry is living up to the fantasy hype. He is averaging career highs in points (23.0), assists (9.2), rebounds (4.6) and steals (1.8). The last player to average at least 23 points and nine assists per game in a season was the Warriors’ Tim Hardaway in the 1991-92 season.
SF – Kevin Durant (OKC): He’s the best of the best. He just might win the Most Valuable Player Award if this matchup were to play out. Durant is posting 30.0 points, eight rebounds and five assists per game. He also takes the ball away 1.5 times and shoots a high percentage, considering the amount of shots he takes.
PF – Kevin Love (MIN): He does what he does – rebound. Not only does he grab 13 boards per game, he also puts up 25.6 points including 2.4 threes per game.
C – Anthony Davis (NO): The kid from Kentucky puts up serious fantasy stats. 19.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and a league-leading 3 blocks per game will certainly get a vote.
Reserves:
G – Damian Lillard (POR): If game-winning shots counted, he could be a starter. The man is clutch. Lillard is having a tremendous season scoring 21.6 points per game and is first place in the entire NBA with 3.3 triples per game.
G – James Harden (HOU): Harden does it all, averaging 24.4 points, 5 rebounds, 5.3 assists and 1.3 steals per game. Houston, we have a franchise player.
F – Dirk Nowitzki (DAL): The Germanator is still doing it at a high level, scoring 21.3 points per game while grabbing 5.8 rebounds and dishing out three assists. His 90.7 percentage from the free throw line helps too.
F – LaMarcus Aldridge (POR): What a year for the former University of Texas star. Aldridge is posting 23.8 points, 11.2 rebounds and one block per game. He also shoots 81.6 percent from the free throw line.
C – DeMarcus Cousins (SAC): Boogie is beasting, scoring 23.4 points and grabbing 11.6 rebounds and 1.1 blocks per game.
F – Serge Ibaka (OKC): High field goal percentage, lots of blocks, improved three-point percentage and a near double-double gets my vote.
F – Blake Griffin (LAC): Although his free throw percentage is unattractive, you can’t take away his 22.3 points and 10.3 rebounds per game. He even gets you a steal each game.
Eastern Conference:
Starters:
PG – John Wall (WAS): Do the John Wall! Wall is having the best season of his career, averaging 19.7 points, 8.6 assist and two steals per game. He also drops in the three ball often and shoots 84.9 percent from the stripe.
SG – Paul George (IND): This guy has emerged as a top player in the league. He is scoring a career-high 22.8 points per game to go along with 6.2 rebounds, 1.8 steals and 3.6 assists.
SF – LeBron James (MIA): His name speaks for itself but, in case you don’t know him, he posts a stat line of 26-6-6 every single night.
PF – Carmelo Anthony (NY): Melo has improved fantasy-wise over the years. He is averaging a very high 8.8 rebounds while putting up his usual high-scoring 26.1 points per game.
C – Spencer Hawes (PHI): Not a big name, but not many good centers in the East. Hawes puts up 14.4 points and 8.7 rebounds per game.
Reserves:
G – Kyle Lowry (TOR): The stats say it all for this point guard: 16 points, 4.1 rebounds, 7.4 assists, 1.7 steals and 2.4 threes per game.
G – Kyrie Irving (CLE): I was expecting a better season for Irving, as well as the Cleveland Cavaliers in general, but he still gets you 21.4 points and six assists per game.
F – Paul Millsap (ATL): New team, another impressive season. Millsap is averaging 17.3 points, 8.3 rebounds, 1.6 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. On top of that, he makes a three each game.
F – Thaddeus Young (PHI): Believe it or not, I have two Sixers on this squad. Young does a little bit of everything; averaging 17.6 points per game, 6.6 rebounds, 1.8 steals, and one three per game.
C – Chris Bosh (MIA): Bosh is getting a solid 15.7 points, 6.7 rebounds and a block and a steal per game.
G – Kemba Walker (CHA): Someone has to do it for Charlotte. The former NCAA champion at UConn is having a productive season, scoring 19 points, grabbing 4.4 rebounds and 4.9 helpers per game. He also averages a solid 1.5 steals per game to go along with 1.6 threes.
F/C – Nikola Vucevic (ORL): As my friend from the University of Southern California would say, “Fight On!” The former USC Trojan is averaging 13 points, 11 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.1 blocks per game. Look out for Vucevic.
