Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers (left) and Anthony Davis of the Lakers were popular West reserve picks among our writers.
Periodically, NBA.com editors will offer their thoughts on key storylines or hot topics around the league.
Who are your Western Conference All-Star reserves?
Editor’s Note: The All-Star reserves will be officially announced Thursday night on TNT (7 ET).
Steve Aschburner
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
- Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
- Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
- Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
- Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
These reservations for me run the gamut from “sure” to “deserves” to “oh yeah!” selections. We couldn’t have this event without Curry, the people’s choice for a decade now. It’s good to see Leonard show up and produce results for the Clippers (it’s been seven years since he played 90% of his team’s games). For Edwards and, really, all All-Stars, let’s hope there is at least a little defensive attention to give their movement and explosiveness proper context. The hardest decision for me was George’s decision regarding De’Aaron Fox.
Brian Martin
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
- Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
- Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
- Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
- Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
Edwards’ star power only grows as he leads the Wolves to the top of the West. The Warriors may be five games under .500, but Curry is the reason they’re still within reach of the Play-In Tournament. In the first zone, everything revolves around Los Angeles and health. Leonard and George have only missed six games combined, each averaging 23 points while Leonard is top 10 in 3P%. Davis has only missed two games averaging 25 and 12 and ranks top five in blocks.
For the jokers, it was hard not to give a second All-Star to OKC or Minnesota (the first two in the West). But I felt that Sabonis (first in rebounds and double-doubles) and Booker (fifth in league scorer) needed to be recognized.
Shaun Powell
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
- Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
- Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
- De’Aaron Fox, Sacramento Kings
- Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
At the risk of annoying Minnesota hoops fans, I’m giving them even more chills by picking a lone wolf. Since Minnesota spent much of the season in first place, was it over? Do Rudy Gobert and Karl-Anthony Towns have a case? Absolutely. But these are difficult decisions. To “make” things worse, the Lakers will likely have two All-Stars with Davis (who is having a better year than LeBron James) and also a pair of hot Clippers on the front court. And me I can’t ignore the impact of Booker and Foxboth of whom are off to an excellent start.
John Schumann
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
- Rudy Gobert, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
- Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
I voted for Gobert and Leonard as starters, so they were easy picks here. Gobert isn’t popular, but the Wolves aren’t in the top five because of their offense. That being said, Edwards has the numbers and team success to be, along with Curry, one of two backcourt picks. Next, it’s George (team success and efficiency), Davis (numbers), and Sabonis (numbers and efficiency) in that order, with apologies to Lauri Markkanen, Alperen Sengun, and Karl-Anthony Towns. Even though the top prospects in the Eastern Conference are guards, it’s tougher to make the West team in the frontcourt.
Michael C. Wright
- Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
- Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
- Kawhi Leonard, Los Angeles Clippers
- Anthony Davis, Los Angeles Lakers
- Paul George, Los Angeles Clippers
- Devin Booker, Phoenix Suns
- Domantas Sabonis, Sacramento Kings
The Warriors currently rank 12th in the Western Conference, but Curry remains one of the team’s highlights and deserves his 10th All-Star nod. Leonard probably deserved consideration among the starters, while Edwards embodies the type of play that wows fans during All-Star Weekend. George ranks right up there with Leonard in terms of production.
The same could be said of Davis in relation to LeBron James. But the first played more matches than the second. The wildcard choices here are obvious with Booker and Sabonis. Booker started the season slowly, but is now cooking after scoring 46 or more points in three of his last five games.
