With the NBA All-Star Game just a month away, let’s take a quick look at the potential roster for the Western Conference. The league announced changes to the format for this season, with a four-team tournament taking place of the traditional West vs. East matchup.
However, the rosters — 12 players from each conference — are to be selected in the same way as before. Both conferences will have two guards and three frontcourt players in the starting lineup with a bench comprised of two guards, three frontcourt players, and two wildcards. Here are our 12 Western Conference picks:
Starters
Guard – Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
The MVP frontrunner is also leading all Western Conference guards in fan voting. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is having his best season to date. And, that’s saying something for a player who has been named to the All-NBA First-team in each of the last two seasons. When Chet Holmgren went down with an injury in November, some expected the Thunder to slip in the standings. Instead, Gilgeous-Alexander has led OKC to the No. 1 record in the West with the league’s best point-differential. His two-way impact has been sensational (31.4 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.9 APG, 2.0 SPG, and 1.1 BPG).
Guard – Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Curry surged past Dallas’ Luka Doncic in the recent fan vote. He’s now slated to start the 2025 NBA All-Star Game in front of a home crowd at the Chase Center. It’s been an up-and-down year for both Curry and his Golden State Warriors. His scoring is the lowest we’ve seen since an injury-plagued 2012 season. However, he’s picked it up as of late and is still shooting well over 40-percent from three.
Curry had a vintage performance against the 76ers two weeks ago, recording 30 points and 10 assists on 11-of-15 shooting including 8-of-8 from three. He’s still plenty capable of having those types of games on any given night. The All-Star game just wouldn’t be the same without Curry hoisting up threes in the exhibition matchup.
Frontcourt – LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
The All-Star Game wouldn’t be the same without LeBron James, either. The 20-time selection is looking for No. 21 in 2025. Naturally, there are some areas that James has regressed in during Year 22. He doesn’t get to the free-throw line much, and he’s not nearly as impactful of a defender anymore.
That being said, James is putting up numbers in his age-40 season that some former All-Stars couldn’t record during their best years. James is posting 23.8 PPG, 7.7 RPG, and 8.8 APG on 50.7-percent shooting from the field and 38.6-percent from three. The Lakers are also firmly in the playoff race in a loaded Western Conference.
Frontcourt – Kevin Durant, Phoenix Suns
Completing the veteran trio is Phoenix’s Kevin Durant, who is arguably the best current player among the three superstars of yesteryear. The Suns have disappointed as a team, but Durant has maintained his high level of play. He’s asked to shoulder a ton of responsibility on both ends and has lived up to expectations. He’s the main reason why the Suns are even in play-in contention at this point.
Frontcourt – Nikola Jokić, Denver Nuggets
Jokić’s spot doesn’t need much explanation. He leads the fan vote and is nearly averaging a triple-double on incredible shooting efficiency. Denver’s center is doing everything he can to keep the team afloat while the other pieces around him have faltered. As of Jan. 13, Jokić ranks third in scoring, third in rebounds, second in assists, fourth in steals, and leads the league in three-point percentage.
Reserves
Guard – Luka Dončić, Dallas Mavericks
This could come down to Dallas’ two guards. Dončić would likely be a starter if he hadn’t gotten hurt. Kyrie Irving was eyeing a reserve role until he recently went down with a back injury. With both players currently on the mend, we give a slight nod to Dončić who has the more impressive counting stats (28.1 PPG, 8.3 RPG, 7.8 RPG, 2.0 SPG) and has been named an All-Star five times in a row. If Irving can return quickly, he could close the gap and potentially pass his Maverick teammate before the coaches vote on the reserves.
Guard – Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Edwards’ play should be enough to get him an All-Star nod despite Minnesota’s disappointing start to the season. The Timberwolves were expected to challenge for a top spot in the Western Conference, but are instead battling for a play-in spot through 38 games. Edwards has suited up for every game this year and leads the league in three-pointers made.
Frontcourt – Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
The 20-year-old is losing the fan vote to more established stars but should make his first All-Star team in 2025 regardless. Wembanyama got out of the gates a bit slow. Over the last two months, he’s been one of the league’s best players. He’s the odds-on favorite for Defensive Player of the Year and is making a case for MVP. He has the Spurs in the race for a play-in spot after back-to-back 60-loss seasons.
Frontcourt – Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
Davis will make his 10th All-Star appearance this season. He is LA’s leading scorer, rebounder, and shot blocker. It’s a Lakers team that isn’t filled with elite defensive talent. Davis is forced to cover others’ mistakes routinely while maintaining his offensive contributions.
Frontcourt – Jaren Jackson Jr., Memphis Grizzlies
The Grizzlies are probably only getting one All-Star this year, and Jaren Jackson Jr. should be the pick over Ja Morant. The former Defensive Player of the Year leads Memphis in scoring and is constantly making plays on the defensive end. His ability to stretch the floor and protect the paint allows the Grizzlies to be flexible in their game plans. He’s been the best player on the No. 3 team in the Western Conference.
Wildcard – Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Jalen Williams is on his way to making his first All-Star Game appearance. With Holmgren on the mend, Williams has stepped into the No. 2 role on a dominant Thunder team. He’s always been an efficient scorer and underrated passer on the offensive end. His defensive impact cannot be understated. Williams is regularly asked to guard across multiple positions and always seems to hold his own. The No. 1 seed in the West gets rewarded with two All-Stars.
Wildcard – Alperen Şengün, Houston Rockets
As stated previously, the coaches prefer to reward winning when picking reserves. If the Clippers were a few games better, we could see James Harden making another All-Star appearance. The same goes for Phoenix’s Devin Booker who is enjoying another strong individual season. Sacramento’s De’Aaron Fox and Domantas Sabonis are making a late push with Sacramento’s recent winning streak, but it might not end up being enough for either to receive serious consideration.
That leaves us with the Houston Rockets, the current No. 2 seed in the Western Conference. Among Rockets players, center Alperen Şengün is the most logical pick for the All-Star team. He’s the best offensive player on a team that craves scoring and playmaking. In a recent matchup against the Grizzlies, Sengun tallied 32 points, 14 rebounds, and 5 assists. That sort of stat line has become routine for the 22-year-old.
