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On Thursday, the NBA announced the 10 players that will start the 2016 All-Star Game. These positions are voted on by fans that have interest in seeing their favorite players, even if they aren't necessarily the ones having the best 2015-16 seasons. That's why Kobe Bryant is one of the starters, of course. He doesn't deserve it with his play, but this is his last year and he deserves a chance to be sent off in style.
But we're going to imagine a world where an All-Star appearance is exclusively about each player's 2015-16 performance to date. Therefore, we've asked each of our writers and editors to put together their 12-man All-Star teams, including both starters and reserves. (The reserves, who are voted on by coaches, will be announced on Jan. 28). We're not tied to the fan vote when making these picks.
Without further ado:
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Pos. |
ZILLER |
FLANNERY |
PRADA |
O'DONNELL |
| G | Kyle Lowry | Kyle Lowry | Kyle Lowry | Kyle Lowry |
| G | Jimmy Butler | Jimmy Butler | Jimmy Butler | Jimmy Butler |
| F | LeBron James | LeBron James | LeBron James | LeBron James |
| F | Paul George | Paul George | Paul George | Paul George |
| F | Chris Bosh | Chris Bosh | Paul Millsap | Andre Drummond |
| G | John Wall | John Wall | John Wall | John Wall |
| G | DeMar DeRozan | DeMar DeRozan | DeMar DeRozan | DeMar DeRozan |
| F | Andre Drummond | Andre Drummond | Chris Bosh | Chris Bosh |
| F | Carmelo Anthony | Carmelo Anthony | Carmelo Anthony | Carmelo Anthony |
| F | Paul Millsap | Paul Millsap | Andre Drummond | Paul Millsap |
| WC | Isaiah Thomas | Isaiah Thomas | Isaiah Thomas | Isaiah Thomas |
| WC | Dwyane Wade | Al Horford | Nicolas Batum | Dwyane Wade |
Pos. |
WEITZMAN |
GOMEZ |
PATT |
BOYLAN-PETT |
PRICE |
CATO |
| G | Kyle Lowry | Kyle Lowry | Kyle Lowry | Kyle Lowry | Kyle Lowry | Kyle Lowry |
| G | Jimmy Butler | Jimmy Butler | Jimmy Butler | Jimmy Butler | Jimmy Butler | Jimmy Butler |
| F | LeBron James | LeBron James | LeBron James | LeBron James | LeBron James | LeBron James |
| F | Paul George | Paul George | Paul George | Paul George | Paul George | Paul George |
| F | Paul Millsap | Andre Drummond | Andre Drummond | Andre Drummond | Chris Bosh | Chris Bosh |
| G | John Wall | John Wall | John Wall | John Wall | John Wall | John Wall |
| G | Isaiah Thomas | DeMar DeRozan | DeMar DeRozan | Isaiah Thomas | DeMar DeRozan | DeMar DeRozan |
| F | Carmelo Anthony | Carmelo Anthony | Carmelo Anthony | Carmelo Anthony | Carmelo Anthony | Carmelo Anthony |
| F | Andre Drummond | Chris Bosh | Chris Bosh | Chris Bosh | Andre Drummond | Andre Drummond |
| F | Chris Bosh | Paul Millsap | Paul Millsap | Paul Milsap | Paul Millsap | Paul Millsap |
| WC | DeMar DeRozan | Reggie Jackson | Isaiah Thomas | DeMar DeRozan | Isaiah Thomas | Isaiah Thomas |
| WC | Dwyane Wade | Brook Lopez | Reggie Jackson | Reggie Jackson | Nicolas Batum | Reggie Jackson |
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Pos. |
ZILLER |
FLANNERY |
PRADA |
O'DONNELL |
| G | Stephen Curry | Stephen Curry | Stephen Curry | Stephen Curry |
| G | Russell Westbrook | Russell Westbrook | Russell Westbrook | Russell Westbrook |
| F | Kawhi Leonard | Kawhi Leonard | Kawhi Leonard | Kawhi Leonard |
| F | Kevin Durant | Kevin Durant | Kevin Durant | Kevin Durant |
| F | Draymond Green | Draymond Green | Draymond Green | Draymond Green |
| G | Chris Paul | Chris Paul | Chris Paul | Chris Paul |
| G | Damian Lillard | James Harden | Klay Thompson | Damian Lillard |
| F | Blake Griffin | Anthony Davis | Anthony Davis | Anthony Davis |
| F | DeMarcus Cousins | DeMarcus Cousins | Blake Griffin | DeMarcus Cousins |
| F | LaMarcus Aldridge | LaMarcus Aldridge | Dirk Nowtizki | LaMarcus Aldridge |
| WC | James Harden | Damian Lillard | James Harden | James Harden |
| WC | Anthony Davis | Klay Thompson | Damian Lillard | Klay Thompson |
Pos. |
WEITZMAN |
GOMEZ |
PATT |
BOYLAN-PETT |
PRICE |
CATO |
| G | Stephen Curry | Stephen Curry | Stephen Curry | Stephen Curry | Stephen Curry | Stephen Curry |
| G | Russell Westbrook | Russell Westbrook | Russell Westbrook | Russell Westbrook | Russell Westbrook | Russell Westbrook |
| F | Kawhi Leonard | Kawhi Leonard | Kawhi Leonard | Kawhi Leonard | Kawhi Leonard | Kawhi Leonard |
| F | Kevin Durant | Kevin Durant | Kevin Durant | Kevin Durant | Kevin Durant | Kevin Durant |
| F | Draymond Green | Draymond Green | Draymond Green | Draymond Green | Draymond Green | Draymond Green |
| G | Chris Paul | Chris Paul | Chris Paul | Chris Paul | Chris Paul | Chris Paul |
| G | James Harden | James Harden | James Harden | James Harden | James Harden | James Harden |
| F | DeMarcus Cousins | DeMarcus Cousins | DeMarcus Cousins | DeMarcus Cousins | DeMarcus Cousins | DeMarcus Cousins |
| F | Anthony Davis | Anthony Davis | Anthony Davis | Anthony Davis | Anthony Davis | Anthony Davis |
| F | Dirk Nowitzki | Blake Griffin | Blake Griffin | Blake Griffin | Blake Griffin | Dirk Nowitzki |
| WC | Blake Griffin | Gordon Hayward | Dirk Nowitzki | Dirk Nowitzki | Dirk Nowitzki | Blake Griffin |
| WC | Klay Thompson | Damian Lillard | Klay Thompson | Damian Lillard | Damian Lillard | LaMarcus Aldridge |
* * *
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