Does Damian Lillard Deserve to Start the NBA All-Star Game?

Damian Lillard has been one of the best players in the league for the better part of the last decade. He has consistently captivated fans of the NBA with his unrivaled shooting range, otherworldly scoring efficiency, and his trademark ‘Dame-Time’ moments. Drafted by the Portland Trail Blazers in the 2012 NBA Draft, Lillard instantly showed that he belonged at the NBA stage, winning the Rookie of the Year in a draft class that consisted of the likes of Anthony Davis and Bradley Beal.

Dame wrote a special chapter in the history books of the Blazers, as he was the source of some of the most memorable moments in the Blazers’ recent history. However, despite staying loyal to the city of Portland for more than 11 years, the Blazers hierarchy couldn’t build a roster capable of competing for the title around Dame.

In his pursuit of the coveted Larry O’Brien trophy, Lillard jumped ship to the Milwaukee Bucks this offseason to team up with 2x MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo. Dame has performed like his usual consistent self so far this season, albeit with much fewer touches on the ball. However, that comes with the territory of sharing the court with another All-Star. Which begs the question: Does Dame deserve to start in the All-Star game?

Will Damian Lillard start the All-Star game?

It’s that time of the season when fans start to scramble to vote for their favorite player for the All-Star game. The fan-favorite All-Star game is scheduled for the 18th of February in Indianapolis, and the final return of fan votes has been released by the NBA. Fans of the Bucks would be delighted to see that both their stars, Giannis and Dame, are in line to start the All-Star game. Giannis accumulated the highest number of votes in the league with 4,309,630, while Dame received 1,730,036 votes, ranking as the third-highest for an Eastern Conference guard.

However, fans don’t have the final say, as their votes only contribute to 50% of the total votes used to determine All-Star starters. The remaining 50% is determined by NBA players and a media panel, and this aspect is where Dame’s chances for a starting spot could be at risk.

While Damian Lillard has maintained his All-Star level performances and production, his starting spot in the All-Star lineup could be in jeopardy because of his declining production numbers. Last season, Dame averaged 32.2 points, 7.3 assists and 4.8 rebounds. Meanwhile, he has averaged 25.5 points, 6.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds. Additionally, Dame’s 3-point shooting percentage has dropped to 35.5%, falling below the league’s average of 36.7%. Lillard has made seven All-Star appearances, but he is yet to start an All-Star game, and it looks like his wait for a start will continue.

Who could start the All-Star game if not Dame?

Four players in the Eastern Conference All-Star starting lineup are undisputed selections. Tyrese Haliburton is almost guaranteed to secure one of the starting backcourt positions because he is the engine of the league’s best offense. Furthermore, Hali has averaged 23.6 points and a league-high 12.6 assists per game. Embiid is on course for his third straight scoring title after averaging 35 points per game so far this season. Apart from being the most-voted player, Giannis is also one of two players averaging more than 30 points and 10 rebounds per game. Jayson Tatum is a top-10 scorer and is the best player on the best team in the league.

However, a dilemma arises while picking the last player in the starting lineup. Who would partner Tyrese Haliburton in the backcourt? While Dame has the pedigree and the star power, some guards have performed much better than him.

One of the first names that comes to mind when thinking about an Eastern Conference guard is Trae Young. Young garnered the second-highest number of fan votes for an Eastern Conference guard, with 1,815,898 fans voting for him. However, Trae Young’s potential as a starter may be at risk due to the Atlanta Hawks’ regular season record, which is currently below .500. Another worthy pick for the starting berth is Cleveland Cavaliers’ Donovan Mitchell. He has been the talismanic figure of a Cavaliers team, who currently occupy the 4th seed in the Eastern Conference.

New York Knicks point guard Jalen Brunson has solidified his bid for a starting position by emerging as the star player for one of the most popular teams in the NBA. Additionally, Brunson is posting career-high averages of 25.7 points per game and a 3-point shooting percentage of 43.2%. However, my pick for the starting spot is the Philadelphia 76ers’ guard, Tyrese Maxey. The 23-year-old has seamlessly filled the void left behind by James Harden. Moreover, he has become the second-best player on a title-contending team at the tender age of 23. Maxey received over a million votes from fans, and it’s about time he received the recognition he deserves.

Who do you think should start? Let us know in the comments below!