The NBA announced the 2019 All-Star starters Jan. 24. Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Houston Rockets guard James Harden, Oklahoma City Thunder forward Paul George, Golden State Warriors forward Kevin Durant and Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James will represent the Western Conference in the starting line-ups.  

Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving, Charlotte Hornets guard Kemba Walker, Toronto Raptors forward Kawhi Leonard, Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo and Philadelphia 76ers center Joel Embiid were voted to represent the Eastern Conference.

Antetokounmpo and James will be the captains of their teams due to receiving the most fan votes from the two conferences. They will draft the eight remaining players from the starter pool in the First Round of the NBA All-Star Draft Show 7 p.m. Feb. 7. before selecting the 14 players from the reserve pool in the Second Round.

Even though the captains can select their rosters without consideration to a player’s conference affiliation or position, NBA coaches must choose seven reserves from each conference to fill out the All-Star rosters. Here’s who I believe should be the reserves for the western conference.

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Guard: Damian Lillard, Portland Trailblazers

If it wasn’t for the historic seasons Curry and Harden are having, Lillard would receive a lot more praise for the performance he’s had during the 2018-19 season.

He’s one of the elite point guards in the league, putting up 26 points and six assists per game during one of the most efficient scoring seasons of his career.

Lillard is the leader and best player on a Trailblazers team that sits in the middle of the Western Conference playoff race and are one of the top-10 teams in the NBA. Lillard deserves the nod for being Portland’s steady force guiding them to consistent success.

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Guard: Russell Westbrook, Oklahoma City Thunder

Westbrook has one of the most polarizing All-Star cases of all the guards in the western conference.

On one hand, he’s the worst volume 3-point shooter in the league shooting the worst 3-point percentage of all players who have attempted at least four 3-pointers per game this season, according to basketball reference.

He’s having his least efficient scoring campaign of his career, The Thunder are less dependent on him to make them a good team due to George’s play and Oklahoma City guard Dennis Schroder’s presence on the roster.

However, Westbrook turns Oklahoma City from a good team into a team that can legitimately challenge every team in the league besides the Warriors.

Westbrook is averaging a triple-double for the third consecutive season and is giving more effort on the defensive end. His numbers and impact on one ofthe best teams in the league should earn him his eighth All-Star nod.

 

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Front-court: Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets

Jokic’s All-Star case is a no-brainer. If it was up to me, he would be in the starting line-up over James. Jokic is the best passing center ever averaging the most assists per game by a center since Wilt Chamberlain during the 1967-68 season.  

He’s carried the Nuggets to the second best record in the Western Conference and the fourth best net-rating in the league despite Denver suffering injuries to three of its five best players.

Jokic leads the Nuggets in points, steals, assists and rebounds per game. He’s the engine of one of the league’s best offenses and is making his case as one of the best centers in the NBA.

 

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Front-court: Anthony Davis, New Orleans Pelicans

It isn’t Davis’ fault that the Pelicans are floundering. When he’s on the court, New Orleans outscores opponents by 4.4 points per 100 possessions, a mark close to the 32-17 Indiana Pacers.

The Pelicans’ problems is when Davis is off the court; being outscored by three points per 100 possessions, the equivalent of the 20-31 Memphis Grizzlies.

Davis is putting up career-highs of 29.3 points, 13.3 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game. Only three players have achieved those statistical benchmarks over the course of a full season and they’re all Hall-of-Famers.

Davis has played at an all-time high level this season and deserves an All-Star berth.

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Front-court: Rudy Gobert, Utah Jazz

The reigning Kia Defensive Player of the Year has been instrumental in the Jazz turning around their season. After starting the season 11-12, Utah has gone 18-10 in its last 28 games with Gobert being a one-man wrecking crew in the paint.

Since Dec. 1, the Jazz have had the best defense in the league and Gobert is a significant reason why. He deters shots at the rim at an elite level and his presence in the paint forces players to take bad shots.

He’s combined excellent defensive prowess with his most productive offensive season, scoring a career-high 15 points per game on a league-leading 64.7 field goal percentage.

 

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Wild Card: Karl-Anthony Towns, Minnesota Timberwolves

It’s difficult to overlook Towns’ disappointing play when Philadelphia 76ers forward Jimmy Butler was still on the Timberwolves’ roster. He looked like a shell of himself and a player not content with his role. But, since Butler was traded to Philadelphia, Towns has imposed his will on opponents like he did before Butler’s arrival.

Towns is averaging 23.8 points, 12.6 rebounds, 3.5 assists and 1.8 blocks per game on a 51.3 field goal percentage in the 37 games since Butler was traded. Minnesota has gone 20-17 with the 12th best net rating in the league during this period of time.

Towns is back to playing like one of the best all-around offensive big men and he’s improved his timing, effort and technique on defense. He’s back to playing at an All-Star level and could return to an All-NBA team with another season of growth.

 

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Wild Card: LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs

Aldridge has been the embodiment of the 2018-19 Spurs; steady and consistently good. He’s having his most efficient scoring season while putting up 21.1 points and 8.8 rebounds per game.

There are plenty of players in the Western Conference who are worthy of being an All-Star, but it feels right rewarding the Spurs best player for his production this season.