2024 NBA All-Star Outlook (Northwest Division)
Image by Jesse D. Garrabrant
With a little more than a week left for NBA All-Star Voting, it is time to start looking at some of the top players from the Northwest Division. Here are the official NBA All-Star Votes as of Jan. 4, 2024:
Image by NBA Communications
Denver Nuggets
Nikola Jokic
Nikola Jokic is currently third in the Western Conference Frontcourt fan-voting and is a top three NBA Most Valuable Player candidate. 37 games in Jokic is averaging 25.5 points per game (PPG), along with 11.8 rebounds per game (RPG) and 9.2 assists per game (APG). Jokic’s efficiency is tremendous as he ranks second in the NBA in Player Efficiency Rating (PER) at 31.3 and has a 57% field goal percentage (FG %), which ranks 15th in the NBA. Leading the Denver Nuggets to the second seed in the Western Conference and hitting 39-foot game-winning contested jump shots solidify Jokic as an All-Star Starter as it stands right now.
Image by Micheal Rand
Minnesota Timberwolves
Anthony Edwards
Over the last 6 games, Anthony Edwards has been on a tear averaging 34.2 PPG and shooting 45.7% from three. The young superstar has averaged 26.8 PPG, 5.4 RPG, and 5 APG in his 32 games played this season and has been the number-one scoring option for the top seed in the Western Conference. With dazzling plays such as his signature fadeaway bank shot that reminds fans of the great Michael Jordan, Edwards has quickly become one of the best guards in the NBA at only 22 years of age. Edwards currently ranks sixth in Western Conference Guards fan voting, however, with the recent stretch of success we should see a rise in Edwards’ voting.
Karl Anthony-Towns
This one is a bit of a stretch, however, some respect has to be shown to the Minnesota Timberwolves' big-man “experiment”. On July 1st, 2021 the Wolves decided to pair Karl Anthony-Towns with three-time NBA Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert in a massive trade, which would force Towns to the Power Forward position. After missing most of the 2021-2022 NBA season, Towns has come back in full force this season averaging 21.5 PPG, 9 RPG, 2.9 APG, along with shooting an efficient 39.4% from three. However, what might be most impressive is the improvement in Towns’ defensive efficiency, as he ranks third amongst centers in the NBA for Defensive Rating, with his teammate Gobert ranking first. However, he still ranks 10th in the Western Conference Frontcourt fan-voting and frankly has a lot of competition that is more deserving above him.
Image by Sports Illustrated
Oklahoma City Thunder
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Being crowned Western Conference Player of the Month for December is an incredible accomplishment for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Alexander is currently third in MVP voting with his impressive 31.5 PPG, 6 RPG, and 6.4 APG. Alexander is leading the NBA with 2.4 steals per game (SPG), which currently stands .5 higher than Donovan Mitchell in second place with 1.9 SPG. Not to mention he is leading the Oklahoma City Thunder to their best start in 5 years as they sit at third in the Western Conference. Alexander will have tough competition to become an All-Star Starter as he sits third in Western Conference Guards fan voting behind superstars Luka Doncic and Stephen Curry.
Chet Holmgren
After missing the entire 2022-2023 season, Chet Holmgren has found himself in an intense race for the NBA Rookie of the Year award with Victor Wembanyama. Similar to Karl Anthony-Towns, Holmgren lacks votes and the offensive production compared to their competition to be seriously considered for an All-Star selection. Holmgren in his rookie campaign is averaging 17.4 PPG and 7.4 RPG, along with 2.6 blocks per game (BPG) which ranks fifth in the NBA. So, what does this tell the NBA fans? Well, simply put, defensively Holmgren is plenty productive enough to be an All-Star, however, he will need to increase his offensive production to be considered for the 2024 All-Star team.
