The Boston Celtics are off to a scorching start and on pace for 64 wins. With such a talented team and NBA All-Star conversations heating up, it begs the question how many All-Stars will the Celtics have this February? This article analyzes the case for five Celtics’ players, ultimately figuring out which players most deserve an All-Star selection.
How Many All-Stars Will the Celtics Have This Season?
Jayson Tatum
Let’s not waste any time here; Jayson Tatum is clearly an All-Star. He’s a consensus top-10 player, arguably a top-five player, and the Celtics’ best player. This season, Tatum has continued to be an extremely impressive two-way wing and elite three-level scorer while noticeably attacking the rim more, shooting a career-best 62.6% at the rim. Tatum will be an All-Star starter in the front-court alongside Giannis Antetokounmpo and Joel Embiid.
Jaylen Brown
Jaylen Brown is the gold standard of co-stars. Despite taking a small step back in the PPG department, Brown is having another great year and is certainly worthy of an All-Star selection. Brown continues to be a productive scorer at all three levels and an impactful defender while notably improving as a playmaker. He is also averaging a career-high in assists and is cutting back on turnovers. On any given night, Brown can carry the offensive load and win games for Boston off his elite creation skills. Due to the competition in the East frontcourt, Brown will be named an All-Star reserve.
Derrick White
You could make a strong argument that Derrick White has been the Celtics’ second-best player this year. Does that mean he has the second-best chance at an All-Star selection? Probably not, based on his name and perceived role. However, his all-around impact has garnered national media attention, and he could certainly be named to the All-Star team. White is one of the best perimeter defenders in the league; he is also a historic shot blocker for a guard. Offensively, he’s one of the team’s most consistent and efficient scorers with an incredible basketball IQ and playmaking abilities. White’s impact on winning could give him the edge over more talented yet less winning players such as Trae Young or Donovan Mitchell. Whether he’s named a reserve or injury replacement, ultimately, I would be surprised if White isn’t an All-Star.
Kristaps Porzingis
The addition of Kristaps Porzingis has proved to be a match made in heaven. Porzingis gives the Celtics incredible value on both ends of the floor, unlocking a new element in Boston’s offense with his post-up and lob-threat abilities. Defensively, he does many things at a high level, including blocking shots, protecting the rim, and wreaking havoc as an off-ball defender. The only real knock on Porzingis’ All-Star campaign is that he’s missed nine games. However, similar to White, Porzingis has a great chance of being named a reserve or injury replacement. In this scenario, the Celtics would likely have three or four All-Stars.
Jrue Holiday
Jrue Holiday plays a vital role for the Celtics, providing unmatched versatile defense while shooting very efficiently from beyond the arc and connecting the offense through his playmaking. Unfortunately, he is the odd man out for an All-Star bid. Having five All-Stars from one team has never happened before. I don’t see that changing, barring an absurd number of injury replacements. Furthermore, Holiday lacks the scoring numbers traditionally associated with All-Stars, and the backcourt competition is too much to overcome.
The Last Word
Ultimately, we haven’t seen a team with a case for this many All-Stars since the late 2010s Golden State Warriors. This Celtics team is special and loaded with talent. As a result, I believe Boston will have at least three All-Stars. With four being a strong possibility, five is unrealistic given the history. As for the players, Tatum and Brown are locks to make it. At the same time, White and Porzingis have close to an equal chance. However, White has a slight edge due to playing more games. My guess is that one of White or Porzingis initially makes it as a reserve while the other makes it due to an inevitable injury replacement.
