2015 NBA All-Star Roster: Predicting the Newcomers

Courtesy of nydailynews.com

With fan voting set to begin soon, the NBA will then announce the list of players worthy of a spot on each of the two All-Star teams. Several head coaches will also shoulder the task of selecting the players who will serve as All-Star reserves. While the selection list never goes without scrutiny, we decided to release our prediction of players who will make their first career All-Star appearance. The writers here at Sports Unbiased were asked to predict three players from each conference, heres what they had to say.

Eastern Conference:

Keith Rivas Picks – 2015 NBA All-Star Newcomers:

Courtesy of Jeffrey Phelps/Getty Images

Jabari Parker: Milwaukee Bucks
Experience: 1 Year

The Bucks have been in need of some offense the past couple of seasons, and without any offensive scheme for opposing teams to be concerned about, Milwaukee can be picked apart by pretty much anyone. Jabari Parker solves that problem. As the No.2 overall pick in the most recent NBA Draft, Parker had high expectations when selected to join Milwaukee and he has not disappointed. Already tallying two double-doubles, over 120 rebounds, and a shooting percentage just under 50% but on the rise, Jabari is ready to make Milwaukee a future contender with hopes of advancing to the postseason.

Kyle Lowry: Toronto Raptors
Experience: 8 Years

Now in his eighth season in the NBA, Kyle Lowry is at long last silencing critics. Despite putting up All-Star worthy numbers last year, Lowry was left out of being selected to the All-Star Game. That didn’t stop him from being the Raptors’ go-to-guy on Toronto’s way to a third seed in the post season, behind only LeBron’s Miami Heat and Paul George‘s Indiana Pacers. With even more respect and talent this season, Lowry is averaging 20 points, seven assists, and at least one block per game, and looks to continue to take Toronto in the right direction.

Bradley Beal: Washington Wizards
Experience: 2 Years

In just his second season in the league, Bradley Beal has helped the Washington Wizards get right where they want to be in the Eastern Conference. After being a laughingstock franchise for many years, the Wizards resurfaced starting with stellar play from guards John Wall and Bradley Beal. In a case similar to Kyle Lowry’s, Bradley Beal’s Wizards will have to be one of the top two or three teams in the East by the All-Star break for Beal to make it. Wall’s appearance as an All-Star is almost a lock, God forbid an injury were to happen, but Beal’s chances are nearing a peak.

Jr. Williams Picks – 2015 NBA All-Star Newcomers:

Courtesy of Chicago Bulls

Jimmy Butler: Chicago Bulls
Experience: 2 Years

Jimmy Butler will not only make his first All-Star appearance, he will also be a frontrunner for the 2014-15 NBA Most Improved Player award. In the wake of a not so healthy Derrick Rose, Butler has accepted the challenge by leading the offensive charge for the Bulls with an average of 21 points per game. As a result, the Bulls are a top-5 team in the Eastern Conference, while Butler appears to have taken a ton of pressure off the shoulders of Rose. The November player of the month became the first Bull to be honored with the accolade since Derrick Rose in March 2011. If Butler can sustain his high level of play, he should be en route to earning an All-Star spot among the NBA’s elite this season.

Kyle Lowry: Toronto Raptors
Experience: 8 Years

Lowry has been on a rampage this season putting up career numbers in points per game, not to mention he is among the early list of MVP Candidates. Overall, Lowry has been the offensive floor general for a team looking to improve on their 2014 NBA postseason success. The Raptors are currently ranked as the No.1 team in the Eastern Conference and Lowry deserves a ton of credit for leading his team in the wake of an injured DeMar DeRozan. Lowry has been one of the most efficient guards in the east, he has worked hard this season, and deserves a spot on the East All-Star team.

Brandon Knight: Milwaukee Bucks
Experience: 3 years

Let keep it real, Brandon Knight has already been through a few embarrassing moments during his first few seasons in the league. First, he gets posterized by DeAndre Jordan, with an aerial assault that should have drawn the attention of the FAA. Then, he gets crossed-over by Kyrie Irving during the 2013 NBA Rising Stars Challenge, with a move from Irving that left him virtually paralyzed from the waist down. Despite all the bad media highlights, Knight had been on a mission to vindicate his name and prove that he is a star in this league. He leads the Milwaukee Bucks in scoring with an average of 17 points per game, while the Bucks have surprised many with an overall record of 11-10, ranking them No.6 in the Eastern Conference.  Knight continues to improve his game and I believe this year his contributions will pay dividends for the Bucks organization.