All-Star voting with a revamped format is already underway. The Western Conference is crowded with star talent. Will the 2024-25 Houston Rockets be able to call theirs an All-Star? Alperen Sengun just scored a season-high 38 against the reigning DPOY, Rudy Gobert, and the Minnesota Timberwolves. Unfortunately for the Rockets, those points came in a loss.
Sengun did such a good job of attacking Gobert from the perimeter, even running inverted pick-and-roll that the Wolves were forced to bench the Frenchman. That gave Anthony Edwards and the Wolves enough space on offense to mount a comeback. With his impressive play and the Rockets’ success Sengun has a rock-solid All-Star case.
Breaking Down the All-Star Chances of the Rockets’ Franchise Cornerstone Alperen Sengun
Sengun’s All-Star Case
Sengun is an All-Star-level talent and has proven it this season. He’s averaging 19.0 points, 10.6 rebounds, 5.1 assists, 1.2 steals, and 1.0 blocks per game. Even though his scoring numbers are slightly down, he’s proven that a team can be competitive, featuring him as the offensive focal point. Additionally, the Rockets have a stellar 21-10 record, good for third in the West. Unfortunately, being an All-Star-level talent isn’t always enough. The West is full of stars. Has Sengun been among the twelve brightest this season?
The Lock Constellation
The Western Conference has several stars who are locks for the All-Star weekend. LeBron James, for instance, will start. While he may be experiencing something of a down year, LeBron will coast to a starting spot on the fan vote however many more years he chooses to play, and deservedly so.
Meanwhile, Nikola Jokic is probably still the best player in the league. There is at least a case for Giannis Antetokounmpo again since his mid-range shot developed, negating his one “weakness” as a somewhat counter-able half-court creator. At a minimum, though, Jokic remains the best player in the Western Conference. He will start.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Doncic, Stephen Curry, Anthony Davis, and Edwards are all locks as well. Davis is the only one among those who could be considered remotely controversial, and only because the Lakers will already be sending LeBron. That won’t be held against him, and nor should it be. There is a solid chance that Doncic’s injury might sideline him, but for simplicity’s sake, fellow Maverick Kyrie Irving would slot in as a replacement. Doncic’s absence certainly wouldn’t be a big loss for the competitive atmosphere of the event, though the entertainment value might take a hit.
The Wildcard Constellation
That’s seven players so far. Then there are the wildcards. Kevin Durant and Ja Morant have both missed enough games not to show up on the official NBA statistical leaderboards. Both are playing now, however and Durant might just get in as a starter anyway.
That complicates Devin Booker‘s case. Booker is in pole position for the biggest “snub.” Partly, that’s because of Phoenix’s .500 record, and partly because fellow Sun Durant may be elevated instead. Even if KD is kept out by injury, Booker still isn’t guaranteed a spot. These three are the main complicating factors. At least one will almost certainly make it, and possibly all three could.
Sengun’s All-Star Competition
Only two to four spots remain then. There are five primary contenders for those places.
James Harden, Victor Wembanyama, Jalen Williams, Jaren Jackson Jr., and Sengun. At least one of the five probably won’t make it, three if Durant and Booker both wind up representing Phoenix and Morant stays healthy with Memphis.
It’s worth noting that Sacramento Kings stars De’Aaron Fox, and Domantas Sabonis will almost certainly be excluded because of the Kings’ troubled reign this season. Things are going so badly that they’ve fired their coach, and Fox is in trade rumors to Houston. Sacramento will almost assuredly be unrepresented in San Fransisco.
So, back to the five, and the best player of those five is Wembanyama. He’s already started his campaign among the coaches by deriding the uncompetitive atmosphere of previous events. He’s averaging 25.2 points, 10.1 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.0 steals, and 4.0 blocks per game. Wembanyama will be a 2024-25 All-Star.
The Oklahoma City Thunder are the only team that has separated itself in the West. Usually, that kind of separation is rewarded with an extra All-Star spot. Meanwhile, the talented Williams, nicknamed J-Dub to avoid confusion with teammate Jaylin Williams, has been getting All-Star buzz since last season. “J-Dub” is just about guaranteed to make it.
Unfortunately, if Durant, Booker, and Morant all get in, then that’s it. The team is already at 12. If there is another space, Sengun should clear Jackson, though. Although the former DPOY does score more, Sengun out-boards and out-dimes him. Sengun also has the advantage of a deep NBA Cup run. Jackson is having an excellent season. The depth of talent in the West is such that it probably won’t be an All-Star one.
Could Come Down To An Emotional Final Two for Houston Fans
But there is another competitor. If two of Morant, Booker, and Durant make it, then the final spot would be an emotional one for Houston fans. It would be between Houston’s future and its past – Sengun, or seven-time Rockets All-Star, the Beard.
Both Harden and Sengun are offensive engines for respectable teams. Despite performing that role, though, neither of them actually score that much. Harden is averaging 21.9 points per game, Sengun even less at 19.0. Realistically, Harden should probably make it over Sengun. But Harden should have easily made the Eastern Conference All-Star team ahead of DeMar DeRozan or Jrue Holiday in 2023, so there is precedent for the coaches treating him harshly.
Still, there was a missed games argument to partially explain the Harden “snub” that season. No such thing this time around. Harden is having an exquisite post-prime season this year and should really be considered a lock. If Morant and either of Phoenix’s stars make it, then Sengun may miss out.
The Last Word
There’s still plenty of time before coaches decide on the All-Star reserves list. A lot could change. Sengun could help his case by bumping up his scoring numbers a little. More importantly, though, he has to keep helping the team stack up wins. Meanwhile, the availability of other stars, and even Sengun himself, will remain a significant factor. Sengun is close. He clearly has the talent. Whether he makes it or not, though, the 2024-25 season is leaving Rockets fans all starry-eyed regardless.
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