Northwest Division 2023-24 All-Star Ballot

If the Northwest Division had its own All-Star game festivities this year, who would be featured on the team?

The Northwest Division has featured some of the all-time greats throughout its history, from Kevin Garnett in Minnesota to Kevin Durant in Oklahoma City all the way to Denver’s Nikola Jokić, arguably the best player in the NBA today. As All-Star voting continues and the All-Star weekend in Indiana draws near, a hypothetical All-Star team was created to represent the division. Multiple factors were considered when selections were made, including statistics, impact on winning and availability throughout the games played so far this season. There were no position requirements instated, and the roster, similar to those used in the All-Star game, will contain 13 spots, with five starters and eight reserves. Without further ado, the 2023-2024 Northwest Division All-Star team.

STARTERS

OKC G Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

How do you follow up a season where you finished 5th in MVP voting and willed one of the youngest teams in the league within one game of the playoffs? Simple. You do what SGA has done this year, increasing his averages for points, assists and rebounds while also being amongst the league leaders in steals. The OKC Thunder are near the top of the uber-competitive Western Conference and Gilgeous-Alexander has been a major reason why. If he maintains health, there is no reason to doubt he will appear near the top of the MVP ballot yet again.

MIN G Anthony Edwards

After their playoff exit against the Denver Nuggets last season, Edwards solidified himself as one of the top young players in the NBA. Over the summer, leading Team USA in the FIBA World Cup and so far, this season, he has shown growth on both ends of the court, using his freakish athleticism to lead the Timberwolves to the top seed in the West. His meteoric growth has Minnesota in a position to compete for championships for years to come.

UTA F Lauri Markkanen

When he was drafted, Markkanen was expected to contribute to the Chicago Bulls immediately as a scorer who could lead them into the future alongside Zach Lavine. After a few underwhelming seasons, Markkanen was shipped to Cleveland and eventually found his way to the Jazz, where he has blossomed into a three-level scorer. The Jazz’s record likely will hold the Finnish Hammer from consideration in the All-Star voting league-wide, but his scoring and improved defensive play have the Jazz sitting just outside of the last play-in spot.

DEN C Nikola Jokić

It has taken another historically great season by Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid to prevent Jokić from running away with the MVP yet again. Jokić has been outstanding, sitting in the top 15 in the NBA in points, rebounds and assists while leading the Nuggets to a top three spot in the conference. The continuity of coaching and roster in Denver is a big reason why they are enjoying sustained success, but make no mistake, Jokić’s magic is what makes this team truly special.

MIN C Rudy Gobert

Being put into a chokehold by Golden State forward Draymond Green may be the thing that Gobert is remembered for this season, he has quietly been one of the most impactful players in the NBA. When the Timberwolves traded for the French big man, he was expected to improve the defense and get other players to buy in on that end of the floor, especially young cornerstones Karl-Anthony Towns and Anthony Edwards. After a shaky first season, Gobert is leading one of the best defenses in the league and is making a case to secure his 4th Defensive Player of the Year Award.

RESERVES

OKC C Chet Holmgren

An asterisk will certainly be put on Holmgren if he continues to play well and secures the Rookie of the Year award, but he has been phenomenal in his first season. He was expected to be a good defensive addition to the Thunder, who desperately needed size and shot-blocking last year, but his offensive talents have blown everyone away. His ability to handle and shoot the ball smoothly at over seven feet tall has given the Thunder the best pick-and-pop option they have had since Kevin Durant.

DEN G Jamal Murray

Remember the years where people campaigned for Mike Conley to receive an all-star nod when he was playing well for the Memphis Grizzlies but never could break through? That might be where Jamal Murray is heading, unfortunately. He has been amazing as he and Jokić continue to add wonderful wrinkles to their two-man game, but his lower number of games played will undoubtedly be used against him when the All-Star team is announced. He may need to wait another year before receiving national attention, but fans in Denver know just how vital he is to their operation.

POR F Jerami Grant

The Trail Blazers are at the beginning of what they hope will be a shorter rebuild as they grow accustomed to life without franchise legend Damian Lillard, but Grant’s two-way play has been a bright spot. He has been a model of consistency on a team lacking it, scoring over 20 a game on good shooting percentages while providing engaging perimeter defense to a team needing it. The Blazers would love to sell high on him, but his newly signed contract makes things extraordinarily difficult. For now, though, he operates as a role model for the younger players on the team to follow.

MIN C Karl-Anthony Towns

For the longest time, the knock against KAT was that he cared too much about his offensive game and was disengaged in the defensive and rebounding aspects of the game. This season, however, he has quieted those complaints, playing the best defense of his career while also showing more effort on the glass. Having Rudy Gobert and Naz Reid on the team to do the dirty work down low has allowed Towns to lean more into being a silky-smooth shooting big man, but he has put in more effort this year, much to the joy of Timberwolves fans.

OKC F Jalen Williams

In every game the OKC Thunder play, it is clear that SGA will be the leader on the court, but the mantle of second fiddle has bounced around a bit throughout the year. J-Dub has been that more times than not, but it isn’t just his improved offensive game that has earned him that respect. His defense as a whole has allowed OKC to play aggressively and take more risks because of the security he and Holmgren provide down low. His physical prowess will serve the Thunder well when they run into the elite West wings in the playoffs.

UTA G Jordan Clarkson

Clarkson is in the same vein as Murray, where his lack of games played may be held against him. Regardless, his scoring off the Utah bench can’t be overlooked, as well as his improved playmaking on a team deprived of it. Clarkson is one of the popular candidates to be moved to a contender at the trade deadline, and he has the talent and experience to be the player who moves a potential contender into a bona-fide threat for the NBA Championship.

DEN F Aaron Gordon

When you play on a team as good as the Nuggets, it can be easy to be overlooked compared to Jokić’s prowess and Murray’s scoring punch, but Gordon is one of the main reasons Denver brought home their first championship and he is continuing his dynamic play from last year. His stellar defensive play should garner him attention for an All-Defense team spot, and his offensive versatility make him a perfect Swiss Army knife to put next to their offensive hub.

MIN G Mike Conley

The Lakers moved Russell Westbrook last year to get away from his contract and they pursued the Timberwolves’ D’Angelo Russell in return. The Timberwolves should be thanking their lucky stars that they were able to hold onto Conley. His veteran play and comfort running pick and roll with Rudy Gobert (one of the best statistical duos in the league by the way) has helped the Wolves find consistency this season. He may not shine as bright as his co-stars, but Conley deserves a massive amount of credit for his contributions to the team. If they end up lifting the Larry O’Brien trophy in June, Conley will be one of the biggest factors behind it.

Northwest Division 2023-24 All-Star Ballot

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