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NBA 2021 All-Star Reserves: Most Deserving

The league officially announced the NBA 2021 All-Star reserves on Tuesday night. This unveiling rounded out the full editions of the NBA 2021 All-Star rosters. Notably, only coaches take part in voting of the All-Star reserves, whereas the fans and media owned a portion of the starters’ vote. As usual, there were a few shocking names left off the list, but plenty of players have done more than enough to earn their spots. Check out the most deserving members of the NBA 2021 All-Star reserves. 

NBA 2021 All-Star Reserves: Most Deserving 

Eastern Conference 2021 All-Star Reserves: Most Deserving 

Julius Randle, New York Knicks

In his seventh NBA season, Julius Randle of the New York Knicks has been announced to his first-ever NBA All-Star game. Randle is the first Knicks player to make the All-Star roster since Carmelo Anthony back in 2017. He’s been on a tear this season, proving the main catalyst for New York’s shocking start. After years sitting as a laughing stock of the league, New York sits as the seventh seed in the Eastern Conference with a 15-16 record. Randle ranks top-15 in rebounding (11 per game) and efficiency (27.3) while scoring 23.2 points per night. The seventh-year man is shooting better than 48 percent from the field while adding 5.5 assists per night. His assists, scoring, rebounding, and minutes per game all rank as career-highs. Randle has been one of the league’s most-improved players and is earning his future as a centerpiece of the Knicks franchise. 

Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics is another prime candidate for the NBA’s Most Improved Player award. He’s been stellar for Boston this season, setting a career-high in scoring at 25.5 points per night. This ranks 13th in the league. Brown has been incredibly efficient in his 33.7 minutes per game and is shooting career-best marks in field-goal percentage (49.7 percent), three-point percentage (40.9 percent), and from the charity stripe (76.6 percent). Brown has stepped into a role as the other franchise superstar behind Jayson Tatum, who was also announced to the 2021 All-Star reserves. According to the Celtics, Brown is one of five players in the league averaging at least 25 points on better than 49 percent shooting from the field and 40 percent from deep.

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Zach LaVine, Chicago Bulls

Many believed that Zach LaVine was snubbed from last year’s All-Star Game. Well, the league’s coaches made up for that mistake as LaVine earned his first-ever All-Star appearance. The UCLA product has been on a scoring tear this year, averaging 28.6 points in 35.6 minutes per night. This mark is good for sixth in the league, while the seven-year veteran owns the third-most 30-plus point games in the league at 15. LaVine has also added 5.1 assists and 5.4 rebounds per night in addition to shooting better than 50 percent from the field. 

Western Confernce 2021 All-Star Resverves: Snubs

Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers

The Western Conference list of most deserving 2021 All-Star reserves is full of familiar faces. It starts with Paul George of the Los Angeles Clippers, who earned his seventh nod this season. After disappearing in last year’s playoffs, George has been on a mission this year. The 11-year NBA veteran is averaging a cool 24.4 points per night while notching career-best marks in assists (5.5), field-goal percentage (51.1 percent), and three-point percentage (47.1 percent). Los Angeles sits second in the Western Conference at 22-10, and simply put, this team wins with George on the court. The Clippers are 17-5 in games he starts while scoring 12 points per 100 possessions than when he sits. 

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Damian Lillard, Portland Trail Blazers

Damian Lillard earns his sixth NBA All-Star nod this season while playing to his usual superstar capabilities. Lillard ranks fourth in the NBA in scoring at 29.8 points per night in 35.8 minutes. He may not be shooting the most efficiently of his career, but the Portland Trail Blazers have needed every bit of his stardom en route to an 18-12 start. As expected, the Western Conference is incredibly deep and Lillard aims to finish at the top of the conference. Lillard also owns the most 30-plus point games in the league at 15. Add in close to a career-high mark of 7.9 assists per game, Lillard was a lock for the All-Star game. 

Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell, Utah Jazz

The two superstars for the Utah Jazz were both selected to the NBA 2021 All-Star reserves, and rightfully so. Utah owns the best record in the league at 25-6 and has been rolling on all cylinders thanks to Rudy Gobert and Donovan Mitchell. It was too difficult to break up this pairing because their individual performances and the performance of the Jazz would not be the same if either was removed from the situation. Gobert ranks second in the NBA in both blocked shots (2.8) and rebounds (13.5) while adding 13.9 points on 64 percent shooting. Mitchell, in his fourth season, owns career-best marks in scoring (24.5), assists (5.2), and rebounds (4.4). 

The full list of NBA 2021 All-Star reserves can be found here.

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Adam Taylor McKillop, Associate Editor

Adam Taylor McKillop, Associate Editor

Adam Taylor is an opinionated, passionate, and experienced sports nut based in New York. He currently writes hoops for Last Word on Sports and his personal blog ATM Sports Bank. A former college Sports Information Director and media relations professional, Adam Taylor is moving into the sports journalism field.

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