Being named an NBA All-Star is an incredible feat. It means that the player is recognized as one of the top current players in the sport. There are times though when a player has a terrific career, yet somehow never once received an All-Star honor. Here is a starting lineup (plus top reserve at each position) of the best active players looking for their first All-Star nod. Rookies were excluded, although no rookies would have made it even if considered. This is looking at how the player is currently, and not for the totality of their career. Apologies to Alperen Sengun, Myles Turner, Jalen Green, OG Anunoby, Jalen Johnson, Aaron Gordon, CJ McCollum and others who were considered.
The Best NBA Players Currently Without An All-Star Appearance
PG – Jamal Murray, Denver Nuggets
Entering his eighth NBA season, Jamal Murray is coming off his most efficient season scoring the ball. In 2023-24, he set career-highs shooting 48.1% from the field and 42.5% from beyond the arc. The 2023 NBA champion has averaged more than 20 points each of his last three seasons and more than six assists each of the last two. Murray’s issue has been the West has always been stacked with top-notch point guards. Currently, Stephen Curry, Luka Doncic, De’Aaron Fox, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander man the position in the Western Conference. Previously, Murray had to compete with the likes of Damian Lillard, Chris Paul, and Russell Westbrook.
Reserve – Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
SG – Derrick White, Boston Celtics
Derrick White entered the 2023-24 season as somewhat of an underappreciated player. He exited it an NBA champion, and after that, a gold medal winner with Team USA. The 30-year-old White was named to his second straight All-Defensive Second Team and finished eighth in Defensive Player of the Year voting. He had nearly a 3.5 assist-to-turnover ratio while shooting just shy of 40% from three-point range. He’s arguably the best shot-blocking guard in the NBA.
Reserve – Desmond Bane, Memphis Grizzlies
SF – Mikal Bridges, New York Knicks
Mikal Bridges might be the starting shooting guard for the Knicks this season, but he has mostly been utilized at the three during his career. He is entering his seventh season, and his next missed game will be the first of his career. His efficiency dipped a bit last season, but he was often miscast as the Brooklyn Nets top option, something he won’t be with the Knicks. Previously, Bridges was the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year with the Phoenix Suns in 2021-22.
Reserve – Franz Wagner, Orlando Magic
PF – Jalen Williams, Oklahoma City Thunder
Entering his third season, Jalen Williams was arguably the second-best player on the top-seeded Oklahoma City Thunder in 2023-24. Finishing fourth in Most Improved Player voting, Williams was an extremely efficient scorer last season with a shooting split of .540/.427/.814. The 23-year-old was runner-up for Rookie of the Year in 2022-23. Whether he remains at power forward or moves to the three depends on if the Thunder insert Isaiah Hartenstein into the starting lineup.
Reserve – Evan Mobley, Cleveland Cavaliers
C – Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
ESPN’s Summer Forecast recently made Victor Wembanyama their runaway choice to be the most likely first-time All-Star in 2024-25. That should come as no surprise. The 20-year-old was the unanimous Rookie of the Year last season and runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year. The seven-foot-four wunderkind led the league in blocks and improved his efficiency scoring the ball dramatically as the season went along. San Antonio adding a veteran point guard in Chris Paul should allow Wembanyama to get the ball where he likes even more so.
Reserve – Chet Holmgren, Oklahoma City Thunder
