The NBA All-Star Game can often feel like a club filled with old-timers. LeBron James, Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant have been locks to participate in the annual event for years.
Even some of the youngsters are already All-Star Game veterans. Luka Doncic and Jayson Tatum have not yet turned 25 years old, but they are both four-time All-Stars.
There is still room for new faces, though. The NBA revealed the 2023 All-Star reserves on Thursday night, and four players were excited to hear their names called for the first time.
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Full list of first-time All-Stars
(Individual stats current as of Feb. 2)
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Thunder
Gilgeous-Alexander had a strong case to be a starter, but jumping ahead of Curry and Doncic was no easy task. He is one of the top five scorers in the NBA, averaging 30.8 points per game while shooting 50.5 percent from the field.
The 24-year-old can break down any defense with his penetration. He is the league leader in drives and points off drives per game. He has carried the Thunder to a surprising 24-27 record, putting a team that was expected to be a basement-dweller in the playoff picture.
Tyrese Haliburton, Pacers
Haliburton has missed the Pacers' last 10 games with a knee injury, but he did more than enough before he was sidelined to earn his first All-Star selection. He is posting a career-high 20.2 points per game, and he leads the league with 10.2 assists per game.
While his form may look a bit funky, his jumper is very effective. He is shooting 39.9 percent on 3-pointers, and he is averaging 8.7 points per game on pull-up attempts, a higher mark than James Harden, Kawhi Leonard and Chris Paul.
Jaren Jackson Jr., Grizzlies
Jackson is arguably the best defensive defensive player in the league. He is averaging 3.3 blocks per game, and opponents are only shooting 53.6 percent within five feet of the rim against him. Behind Jackson's dominance, the Grizzlies hold the second-best defensive rating in the NBA.
But let's not overlook his offensive play. He is contributing 16.5 points per game while shooting 50.1 percent from the field and 36.3 percent from beyond the arc.
Lauri Markkanen, Jazz
Markkanen will receive a nice ovation from the crowd when he takes the floor in Salt Lake City — and deservedly so. He is scoring 24.9 points and grabbing 8.7 rebounds per game, and he has been incredibly efficient, posting 52.0/43.2/87.5 shooting splits.
And Markkanen isn't filling up the box score with empty numbers. When he plays, the Jazz have a net rating of 5.7. When he sits, that figure drops to minus-5.8. He is a major reason why Utah is over .500 more than halfway through the season.
2023 NBA All-Star starters and reserves
Eastern Conference starters (two guards, three frontcourt)
| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| G | Donovan Mitchell | Cavaliers |
| G | Kyrie Irving | Nets |
| F | Giannis Antetokounmpo | Bucks |
| F | Jayson Tatum | Celtics |
| F | Kevin Durant | Nets |
Eastern Conference reserves (two guards, three frontcourt, two wild cards)
| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| G | DeMar DeRozan | Bulls |
| G | Jaylen Brown | Celtics |
| F | Joel Embiid | 76ers |
| F | Bam Abebayo | Heat |
| F | Julius Randle | Knicks |
| WC | Jrue Holiday | Bucks |
| WC | Tyrese Haliburton | Pacers |
Western Conference starters (two guards, three frontcourt)
| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| G | Stephen Curry | Warriors |
| G | Luka Doncic | Mavericks |
| F | LeBron James | Lakers |
| F | Zion Williamson | Pelicans |
| F | Nikola Jokic | Nuggets |
Western Conference reserves (two guards, three frontcourt, two wild cards)
| Position | Player | Team |
|---|---|---|
| G | Ja Morant | Grizzlies |
| G | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | Thunder |
| F | Domantas Sabonis | Kings |
| F | Paul George | Clippers |
| F | Lauri Markkanen | Jazz |
| WC | Damian Lillard | Trail Blazers |
| WC | Jaren Jackson Jr. | Grizzlies |
