Since last night, we know the owners for the next All-Star Game 2023. Among them, Stephen Curry, which will not surprise anyone considering the greatness and popularity of the best shooter in history. But we can still wonder if Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ja Morant were not more legitimate to be a starter alongside Luka Doncic.
Does Stephen Curry deserve to start the All-Star Game ahead of…?
This beginning of the sentence may seem absurd at first glance. We are talking regarding Stephen Curry, the greatest all-time sniper, the 2022 Finals MVP, a four-time NBA champion, a guy who still averages 30 points – 6 rebounds – 6 assists at age 34. In short, a basketball monster.
Except yes, Warriors fans want to hear it or not, there was indeed a debate this year concerning the second place holder on the backcourt of the West, alongside Luka Doncic. A debate which draws its source in particular from the absence of Curry for three weeks (shoulder injury) between mid-December and the beginning of January, but also from the greatness of two backs named Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Ja Morant.
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s arguments (versus Steph)
- More matches played
- Almost similar collective balance sheet with less talent
Like Stephen Curry, SGA is carrying out an absolutely exceptional individual campaign: 30.8 points on average (51.1% shooting, 36.1% 3-pointers, 90.6% free throws), 4.8 rebounds , 5.6 assists, plus a defensive contribution that can’t be ignored (1.1 once morest, 1.7 interceptions). You add to that big exploits in the money-time to bring the Thunder to the gates of the play-in tournament, and you get a file very serious for the All-Star Game.
What might (should?) have tipped the scales in favor of SGA is that he has played 11 more games this season than Stephen Curry. Shai has only missed 4 games this year, once morest 15 for Steph, for the same total of games played by their respective teams (48). A significant difference.
And then, when you look at the record of the Thunder and the Warriors, you realize that the two franchises are separated by only one game in the standings (23 wins – 25 losses for Oklahoma City, 24-24 for Golden State). If we had been told that in October, we would not have believed it. This small difference is both representative of the talent of SGA, capable of carrying on its shoulders a promising but still limited and above all inexperienced team, as well as the galleys of the Curry Warriors – yet defending champions – this year.
Player 1:
30,1 points
6.4 rebounds
6,1 passes
2,3 interceptions
0.9 once morest
52% shootingPlayer 2:
30,6 points
4.8 rebounds
5,5 passes
1,7 interception
1 once morest
51% shootingPlayer 1: Michael Jordan 1992
Player 2: Shai Gilgeous-Alexander 2023— TrashTalk (@TrashTalk_fr) January 23, 2023
Ja Morant’s arguments (compared to Steph)
- More matches played
- Much higher collective balance sheet
The argument of matches played also applies to Ja Morant. The Grizzlies superstar has played 40 of his team’s 48 games, compared to just 33 for Stephen Curry. There too, we are on an important difference, in any case important enough to be taken into account when comparing the files of Steph and Ja.
The other main argument in favor of Morant is the collective record. Certainly, Memphis is a little tough right now with four straight losses, but we’re still talking regarding the team with the second most wins in the Western Conference, and the third-best total in the entire NBA (record of 31 wins – 17 losses). And that, of course, is partly thanks to the exploits of Ja.
With 27.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8 assists and 1 steal on average this season, Ja Morant is Ja Morant. He chains the big individual perfs, he posterizes everything that moves, and symbolizes the confidence with which the Grizzlies have evolved since his arrival in 2019. In short, a real superstar. Superstar who will nevertheless have to settle for a place as a substitute at the next All-Star Game, which will undoubtedly provide him with an additional source of motivation for the second half of the season.
Ja Morant seeing that Steph Curry is an All-Star starter over him this season @PatBevPod pic.twitter.com/JqUQtooi3x
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) January 27, 2023
