fanatix looks at who has made the starting five and if they deserve to be there.
It is seen as a mid-season celebration and a time for players to show off their skills, but the NBA All-Star sides are also a very good measure of a player’s standing in the game.
For a few years now the league has opened up the voting to the public, and as a result, it is not always the “best” players who are given the starting positions in the coveted East and West teams.
fanatix will examine the starting five for the Western Conference team ahead of All-Star weekend in New Orleans and if they have what it takes to beat the East.
1. Kevin Durant (Oklahoma City Thunder) – 1,396,294 votes
fanatix says: The leader in the race for the regular season MVP trophy has to be in the All-Star game right?
Well not always, but most of the time and Durant deserves to be in the big show once again, and now becomes a five-time All-Star at just the age of 25.
The Thunder small forward has been putting up unholy numbers so far this season and has three of the top scoring games to date.
Arguably the best flat out scorer in the league, Durant has shown in recent weeks he can pull up from 30 feet, create a shot off the dribble, drive to the basket, get to the line and find his teammates.
All of which adds up to him being the most popular player in the Western Conference this season.
2013-14 season stats
Points per game: 31.0
Steals: 1.5
Assists: 5.1
Rebounds: 7.7
Free throw %: 88.2
Three point %: 41.3
Field Goal %: 50.4
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