{"id":64109,"date":"2024-02-15T16:52:09","date_gmt":"2024-02-15T21:52:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/?p=64109"},"modified":"2024-02-15T16:52:09","modified_gmt":"2024-02-15T21:52:09","slug":"5-nba-all-star-role-players-this-season","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/basketball\/2024\/02\/15\/5-nba-all-star-role-players-this-season\/","title":{"rendered":"5 NBA All-Star Role Players This Season"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the NBA All-Star<\/a> weekend on the horizon, many of the game’s best stars are rightfully getting tons of praise. But what about some of the league’s overlooked players that are still incredibly impactful? These aren\u2019t All-Star level players but are still stars in their role. Let\u2019s shed some light on five of the league’s best role players. To qualify for this list players must average below 15 ppg per game and not have made an All-Star team within the last two seasons. This may seem arbitrary however these qualifications best represent the community’s definition of a role player. Without further adieu let\u2019s dive into five role player All-Stars.<\/p>\n

5 NBA All-Star Role Players This Season<\/h2>\n

Mike Conley: Minnesota Timberwolves Guard<\/h3>\n

Mike Conley<\/a> has been a crucial part of the Timberwolves success this year. Conley\u2019s playmaking provides a stabilizing force to Minnesota\u2019s offense. The stats back up Conley\u2019s impact, his 6.02 assist-to-turnover ratio ranks<\/a> 3rd in the league. This steady presence is a welcomed change from Minnesota\u2019s turnover-heavy roster and elevates both Anthony Edwards\u2019<\/a> and Karl Anthony Towns\u2019<\/a> production. Conley\u2019s skill set is especially valuable for the Timberwolves who lack guard depth. In addition to his elite playmaking abilities, Conley has been a knockdown 3-point shooter netting 44% of his attempts. Furthermore, Conley has been credited<\/a> as an amazing leader and veteran presence, a role that is certainly impactful for a young Timberwolves team. Ultimately Conley has been the underrated catalyst for the Timberwolves’ incredible success.<\/p>\n

Jalen Suggs: Orlando Magic Guard<\/h3>\n

The emergence of Jalen Suggs<\/a> has been one of the league’s most underrated stories this year. Coming into the season Suggs\u2019 value was uncertain and his shaky jumper was a concerning sign. However, Suggs has been a pivotal piece to the Magic\u2019s success and his two-way abilities are incredibly valuable. Suggs is an elite perimeter defender with an unmatched motor. This skill set is a perfect fit with Orlando\u2019s defensive identity. Suggs has found his jump shot and is shooting a career-best 38% from beyond the arc. Furthermore, his finishing and connective playmaking abilities make him a perfect complementary guard. Paolo Banchero<\/a> and Franz Wagner<\/a> are rightfully given the majority of credit for the Magic\u2019s success however Suggs deserves more praise for his strong all-around impact.<\/p>\n