ESPN has their Summer Forecast panel that makes predictions and answers questions about the upcoming NBA season. In an article posted on Monday, they were asked to name who they believe are the most-likely players to be named an All-Star for the first time. Each ‘expert’ gave their top-three choices. A first-place vote received five points, second-place received three, and third-place received one. Here are the results.
ESPN Predicts Most-Likely First-Time NBA All-Stars In 2024-25
1. Victor Wembanyama – 101 points
Arguably the most-hyped rookie season since LeBron James in 2003-04, Victor Wembanyama absolutely showed his impact on both ends in 2023-24. The 20-year-old won the Rookie of the Year award in unanimous fashion. Wembanyama was the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year and led the league averaging 3.6 blocks. If the San Antonio Spurs can show improvement in the standings, the seven-foot-four Wembanyama should be an All-Star lock. Wembanyama received 90% of the first-place votes.
2. Chet Holmgren – 30 points
Most seasons, Chet Holmgren would have been named Rookie of the Year. He finished second though as most seasons don’t have a transcendent player as a rookie like Wembanyama. After missing the entire 2022-23 season with a foot injury after being selected second overall in the 2022 NBA Draft, Holmgren played a huge role on an Oklahoma City Thunder that was the surprising top seed in the Western Conference. The 22-year-old played all 82 games and finished fifth in the league averaging 2.3 blocks per outing. The seven-foot-one center shot 53.0% from the field and 37.0% from three-point territory.
3. Mikal Bridges – 20 points
It seems like destiny having Mikal Bridges join the New York Knicks. He is now teammates with many of his compadres at Villanova in Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Donte DiVincenzo. The 27-year-old Bridges is the current ironman of the NBA, as he hasn’t missed a single game over his first six seasons. He was the runner-up for Defensive Player of the Year in 2021-22 with the Phoenix Suns. His shooting numbers dipped a bit last season in a larger than usual role with the Brooklyn Nets, but less will be expected of Bridges on the offensive end in 2024-25 with All-Stars Brunson and Julius Randle.
4. Jamal Murray – 13 points
The 27-year-old Jamal Murray is seen by many as the best veteran to never make an All-Star team. Murray is coming off a season with career-high averages of 21.2 points and 6.5 assists. The 2023 NBA champion also had career-best shooting percentages in 2023-24 of 48.1% from the field and 42.5% from beyond the arc. Murray has had some magnificent postseason performances, but most recently went through struggles in the 2024 postseason as well as the 2024 Olympics for Team Canada. The point guard position is also stacked in the West with Luka Doncic, De’Aaron Fox, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Stephen Curry also manning the position.
5. Cade Cunningham – 9 points
Selected first overall in the 2021 NBA Draft, it was a miserable 2023-24 for Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons. They experienced a 28-game losing streak and finished a franchise-worse 14-68. Despite this, Cunningham’s third NBA season was his best. His shooting splits were career-highs across the board as were his scoring and assist averages. The team is hoping to show improvement in the standings with additions such as Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr., Paul Reed, Malik Beasley, and draft pick Ron Holland.
Others Receiving Votes
- Evan Mobley – 7 points
- Buddy Hield – 3 points
- Jaime Jaquez Jr. – 1 point
- Alperen Sengun – 1 point
Evan Mobley landed a five-year, $224 max extension in the offseason for the Cleveland Cavaliers. He finished third in Defensive Player of the Year voting in 2022-23. Buddy Hield is a surprise name to see on this list, but he should get plenty of open looks playing alongside Curry with the Golden State Warriors. Jaime Jaquez Jr. finished fourth in Rookie of the Year and ninth in Sixth Man of the Year voting in 2023-24. Alperen Sengun had a third-year breakout for the Houston Rockets in 2023-24, and he may be the best big man passer not named Nikola Jokic.
