The starters and captains have been announced for the 2020 NBA All-Star Game, which means the reserves are next in line.
Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo will serve as team captains and will draft the All-Star Game rosters from the pool of players voted as starters and reserves in each conference.
James will have first pick at the pool of eight starters and Antetokounmpo will have the first pick at the pool of 14 reserves.
The pool of reserves – seven players in each conference – will be announced on Friday, Jan. 31.
Ahead of that announcement, here's my opinion on who the reserves should be
In alphabetical order...
Who should the NBA All-Star reserves be?
Eastern Conference
Starters : Giannis Antetokounmpo (captain), Joel Embiid, Pascal Siakam, Kemba Walker, Trae Young
Reserves
Bam Adebayo, C, Miami Heat
Reason: Adebayo is considered by many to be this year's Most Improved Player and his career-highs across the board have played a huge role in the Heat's successful start to the season.
Jimmy Butler, F, Miami Heat
Reason: Butler has been one of the 10-to-15 best players in the NBA this season.
Kyle Lowry, G, Toronto Raptors
Reason: Lowry's scoring, playmaking and leadership cannot be overstated in Toronto's unexpectedly great start to the season.
Khris Middleton, F, Milwaukee Bucks
Reason: Middleton is the second-best player on the most dominant team in the NBA. He is averaging around 20 points per game with 50/42/89 shooting splits.
Domantas Sabonis, F, Indiana Pacers
Reason: Sabonis is averaging a double-double – his 34 double-doubles are third-most in the league – and has kept the Pacers competitive without Victor Oladipo.
Ben Simmons, G, Philadelphia 76ers
Reason: Simmons has turned things up a notch the past few weeks and has been one of the few constants in Philly's up-and-down season.
Jayson Tatum, F, Boston Celtics
Reason: Tatum is enjoying a breakout season averaging a career-high in scoring and has made strides on the defensive end.
Snubs : Bradley Beal, Jaylen Brown, Andre Drummond, Kyrie Irving, Zach LaVine
Explanation: Beal has been awesome and would be next up if the East needed a replacement. Brown has had an All-Star calibre season, but it's hard to justify the Celtics getting three players in. Team success hurts Drummond and LaVine despite showing out in their individual strengths. Irving missed too many games with an injury.
Honourable mentions: Malcolm Brogdon, Kevin Love, Derrick Rose, Nikola Vucevic
Western Conference
Starters: Anthony Davis, Luka Doncic, James Harden, LeBron James (captain), Kawhi Leonard
Reserves
Devin Booker, G, Phoenix Suns
Reason: Booker is averaging just under a career-high in scoring while having the most efficient season of his career and has been the force that has kept the Suns in the playoff hunt.
Rudy Gobert, C, Utah Jazz
Reason: Gobert is once again in the Defensive Player of the Year conversation while averaging a double-double for the second-best team in the conference.
Brandon Ingram, F, New Orleans Pelicans
Reason: Ingram is another player in consideration for this year's Most Improved Player, taking a huge leap as a scorer and playmaker, averaging career-highs in nearly every major statistical category.
Nikola Jokic, C, Denver Nuggets
Reason: After shaking off a slow start to the season, Jokic has gotten back to the player that was in the MVP hunt last season and has been the best player on one of the best teams in the West.
Donovan Mitchell, G, Utah Jazz
Reason: Mitchell has been a driving force for the surging Jazz while averaging career-highs in points, assists, rebounds and all three shooting splits.
Damian Lillard, G, Portland Trail Blazers
Reason: Lillard is having a ridiculous season that would make for sure-fire starting spot in just about any other year.
Chris Paul, G, Oklahoma City Thunder
Reason: No one expected the Thunder to be competitive this season, and Paul's play and leadership has his team as a near-lock for the playoffs.
Snubs: LaMarcus Aldridge, DeMar DeRozan, Paul George, Ja Morant, Karl-Anthony Towns, Russell Westbrook
Explanation: Aldridge and DeRozan are tough to leave off, but neither has distinguished themselves over the field. Morant's time will come. Westbrook turned things up a notch a bit too late. George and Towns have been awesome when they're on the floor but missed too much time with injuries.
Honourable mentions: Clint Capela, Montrezl Harrell, Lou Williams
The views on this page do not represent the views of the NBA, its clubs, the players or media that vote for the All-Stars.
