The 2025 NBA All-Star Game will be hosted by the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)
Every week, Mark Medina shares his thoughts and insights on the latest NBA topics for RG. In this installment, he gives his picks on who should start in the NBA All-Star game.
What criteria should voters use to determine their selections to start in the NBA All-Star game?
Should it depend more on popularity, the players’ performances or whether their respective team has a dominant record? Those are the main questions fans (50%), players (25%) and select media members (25%) will determine when casting their vote.
The NBA will announce on Jan. 20 who will start in the NBA’s All-Star game in San Francisco on Feb. 16. Below are my picks for who most deserve the starting nod.
Eastern Conference
Milwaukee Bucks Forward Giannis Antetokounmpo
Antetokounmpo has become the primary reason the Bucks overcame a 1-6 start and won the NBA Cup. Antetokounmpo has dominated with both attacking and protecting the rim with his athleticism and aggressiveness. And Antetokounmpo has mastered his mid-range game. Recent injuries aside, Antetokounmpo has become an early MVP-candidate for his consistency on both ends of the floor.
Boston Celtics Forward Jayson Tatum
Tatum has stayed consistent with his scoring, but his value no longer just hinges on how many baskets he makes. Tatum has continued to develop into a complete player. He has excelled as a playmaker, rebounder and defender. The Celtics have a well-balanced team with plenty of talent, but Tatum’s all-around approach fuels that style of play.
New York Knicks Center Karl-Anthony Towns
Towns has become the missing piece to the Knicks’ championship puzzle. Towns also has given Minnesota regrets for trading its franchise player amid financial constraints under more restrictive roster-building rules. Towns formed instant pick-and-roll chemistry with Jalen Brunson. He remains the NBA’s best shooting big man. And he has shown he can elevate his defense and workload under a reunion with coach Tom Thibodeau.
Cleveland Cavaliers Guard Donovan Mitchell
Mitchell has helped the Cavaliers become a formidable championship contender with productive scoring and empowering leadership. Some stars might struggle with such dueling responsibilities. Not Mitchell. He has scored efficiently. He has enabled point guard Darius Garland to run a balanced offense. He has overseen both a disciplined and close-knit locker room.
New York Knicks Guard Jalen Brunson
Brunson deserves a starting backcourt spot more than Milwaukee Bucks guard Damian Lillard. Brunson has the edge over Lillard in points per game (25.4, 24.7), field-goal percentage (48.2%, 43.1%), 3-point shooting (39.1%, 36.2%) and assists (7.7, 7.5). The Knicks (24-13) also have a better record than the Bucks (18-16), which has tried to make up ground with an NBA Cup win and recent resurgence following a 1-6 start.
Western Conference
Denver Nuggets Center Nikola Jokić
The Nuggets have lacked the depth and chemistry needed to replicate their NBA title run two years ago. Still, Jokić has become a viable regular-season MVP candidate for the same reason he already has won the award three times in the past four seasons. Jokić has produced a league-leading 14 triple doubles seemingly every other game with his familiar blend of scoring and passing both in the post and along the perimeter.
Los Angeles Lakers Forward LeBron James
James has mostly dominated in his 22nd season in much the same way he has in his other 21 seasons. James has thrived as a playmaking forward that first looks to set up his teammates before attacking the basket with brute strength. James has felt Father Time’s unforgiving touch while nursing an injured left foot. But after a week-long recharge, James has since rediscovered the Fountain of Youth.
Phoenix Suns Forward Kevin Durant
If only Durant could stay healthy and that Suns had a consistent roster around him. Phoenix has gone 14-9 with Durant in the lineup while he has ranked fifth in the NBA in scoring (27.4 points per game). But the Suns have gone 2-9 when Durant has missed a combined 11 games this season related either to his left calf or left ankle. Some All-Stars receive a nod based on team’s record. In this case, the Suns’ struggles may actually bolster Durant’s case. Though he has struggled to stay healthy, Durant has remained reliable when he actually plays.
Oklahoma City Thunder Guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
Gilgeous-Alexander has become the early MVP favorite for becoming the main reason the Thunder (30-5) have the Western Conference’s best record. He slices through multiple defenders to the basket, which results in strong finishes at the rim and frequent trips to the free-throw line. He has addressed his relative weaknesses with his outside shooting, isolation-heavy play and defense. Oklahoma City has a deep roster, but Gilgeous-Alexander’ presence largely explains why the Thunder has absorbed Chet Holmgren’s absence just fine.
Golden State Warriors Guard Stephen Curry
Three poor shooting performances aside, Curry has otherwise stayed steady as the usual prolific shooter and empowering leader that the Warriors love. Golden State lacks clarity on its playoff ceiling, but Curry has helped the team transition from its various roster changes with his strong range and playmaking. Curry should also garner more votes since Dallas’ Luka Dončić remains sidelined with a left calf strain.
Mark Medina is a longtime NBA reporter that includes stints as a Lakers blogger with The Los Angeles Times (2010-12), Lakers beat writer with the Los Angeles Daily News (2012-17), Warriors beat writer with Bay Area News Group (2017-19) as well as an NBA reporter/columnist for USA Today (2019-21) and NBA.com (2021-23). Medina is also an NBA insider with Fox Sports Radio and frequent contributor to CBSLA's SportsCentralLA with Jim Hill and with Spectrum Sportsnet.
