NBA

15 Players Who Are Locks to Make 2015 NBA All-Star Game

15 Players Who Are Locks to Make 2015 NBA All-Star Game

Kobe Bryant
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The All-Star Game voting period just ended its second round, and so it is high time that we take a look at which players are a lock to get voted in. You will find some usual suspects here, but feel free to hit me up on social media if you disagree with any of these picks. Without further ado, here are my 15 locks to make the All-Star team starting with the crowded Western Conference.

15. Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant Dribbles Upcourt
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

15. Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant Dribbles Upcourt
Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

Kobe Bryant will make the team easily based on scoring, swagger, history and obviously votes, and it should be fun to watch what might be his final appearance in the game. He recently passed Michael Jordan's career points total, and it would be cool to see MJ in New York to commemorate this.

14. Chris Paul

Chris Paul
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14. Chris Paul

Chris Paul
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Chris Paul was an MVP candidate in the early season, but he has fallen off a little since then. His 334,544 votes so far rank him fourth among backcourt players in the West. He will most likely be voted in by the coaches.

13. Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan Spurs
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13. Tim Duncan

Tim Duncan Spurs
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There has to be at least one member of the San Antonio Spurs on this roster, and it might as well be Tim Duncan on what is likely his farewell tour. He is the heart and soul of the Spurs.

12. Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol Memphis Grizzlies Utah Jazz Rudy Gobert
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12. Marc Gasol

Marc Gasol Memphis Grizzlies Utah Jazz Rudy Gobert
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This Spanish center is a front-running MVP candidate, and Marc Gasol will definitely get to play and hopefully start against his older brother in New York. That would be quite a sight to see. He should represent the Memphis Grizzlies come February.

11. James Harden

Washington Wizards v Houston Rockets
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11. James Harden

Washington Wizards v Houston Rockets
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James Harden has been my favorite player to watch this season, and he should have the Houston Rockets advance far into the playoffs after April. It also would shock no one if he still led the league in scoring at that time.

10. Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin Clippers
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10. Blake Griffin

Blake Griffin Clippers
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Blake Griffin is having a fantastic campaign. His averages of 22.6 points and 7.8 rebounds per game are astounding, and he is also dishing a career-high five assists per contest. Paul has definitely handed off a lot of the passing duties to his skilled big man.

9. Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis New Orleans Pelicans
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9. Anthony Davis

Anthony Davis New Orleans Pelicans
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Here is another MVP candidate from out West. Anthony Davis may be the NBA's only player with a unibrow, but he is also sporting an insane PER (31.5) to go along with a silky smooth game.

8. Stephen Curry

NBA: Preseason-Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

8. Stephen Curry

NBA: Preseason-Golden State Warriors at Los Angeles Clippers
Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports

You thought I forgot about him, didn't you? Stephen Curry is the most dangerous long-range shooter in the game, and he is built for All-Star weekend. Due to the possibility of another injury, a player you will not see as a lock on this list is, amazingly enough, Kevin Durant. We are now on to the East.

7. Kevin Love

Kevin Love NBA Cavs
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7. Kevin Love

Kevin Love NBA Cavs
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It will definitely help Kevin Love's numbers that LeBron James needs to sit for a couple weeks to start off the year, and this should catapult the PF to an All-Star bid.

6. Jimmy Butler

Chicago Bulls v Brooklyn Nets
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6. Jimmy Butler

Chicago Bulls v Brooklyn Nets
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Jimmy Butler, or Jimmy Buckets as some like to call him, is having a borderline MVP season, and he will be one of at least two Chicago Bulls on the Eastern Conference team. He has been Chi-town's most reliable player on both sides of the ball so far.

5. Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol NBA Bulls
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5. Pau Gasol

Pau Gasol NBA Bulls
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Might as well go to the other Bull. Pau Gasol has been a double-double machine in the early going, and he is delighting Windy City residents with his low post touch, perimeter shooting and skilled passing.

4. Chris Bosh

Miami Heat v Portland Trail Blazers
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4. Chris Bosh

Miami Heat v Portland Trail Blazers
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The Miami Heat are still not quite where they want to be, but a playoff berth should happen for this team despite the absence of LeBron James. Chris Bosh has been one of their cornerstones, and the PF's production predictably spiked after the loss of his former running mate.

3. John Wall

Washington Wizards v New York Knicks
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3. John Wall

Washington Wizards v New York Knicks
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Is calling him the NBA's best pure point guard going too far? Most might think so, but I think John Wall will take the Washington Wizards further than many pundits initially predicted. A rematch with the Bulls would make for some great drama.

2. Dwyane Wade

Miami Heat
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2. Dwyane Wade

Miami Heat
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Flash is back. Dwyane Wade will most likely be a starter over Butler because of fan voting, but it also does not hurt that he has racked up plenty of points. The SG loves being a primary option again, however, you can also tell that he gets winded at the end of games more often without the former MVP to lean on. The All-Star Game will be an interesting reunion of Miami's "Big Three" since LeBron did not leave the conference. Speaking of whom...

1. LeBron James

LeBron James
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

1. LeBron James

LeBron James
Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

I didn't forget King James despite his recent decision to rest for the next couple weeks. That call will not affect his All-Star voting numbers, though, and it is probably wise to make sure he enters the later season with fresh legs.

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