The NBA season hasn’t even started yet but as early as now the betting gods already have their favorites to win the NBA title, MVP, Rookie of the Year and so on. If you have made your bets on those already, don’t think that you are already done for the preseason. That’s because betting site MyBookie.ag has come up with the basketball betting odds for which players will make it to this year’s All-Star teams.
The 2020 NBA All-Star game will be held at Chicago’s United Center on February 16, 2020. And it will be the 69th edition of the NBA’s mid-season classic. While players like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, James Harden among others are expected to be named to the All-Star teams next season, some players are either playing for new teams or those who played well enough last season that is considered to be All-Star material next season.
Here are some of the odds to be named as NBA All-Star this coming season. Odds were taken from MyBookie.ag as of 10/12/19:
When you look at the Odds board, the most expensive bets are Anthony Davis, Nikola Jokic and Kawhi Leonard. When you talk about the three, those are three sure-fire all-stars.
Anthony Davis has been selected as an NBA All-Star from 2014-2019 or six straight seasons. The former #1 overall pick of the 2012 NBA Draft was the MVP of the 2017 NBA All-Star game when it was played at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans. Davis scored an NBA All-Star record 52 points in front of what was his former homecourt. The Brow has moved to the Los Angeles Lakers this season and at age 26, he is certainly a sure All-Star this season if he stays healthy. Remember that Davis injured his thumb during the Lakers’ preseason game against the Brooklyn Nets in China. As of this writing, it’s not yet determined how many games he will miss if any. Last season, Davis played just 56 games after suffering various injuries. He’s not played 82 games in any season of his NBA career.
Nikol Jokic was the Denver Nuggets’ 2nd round pick in the 2014 NBA Draft. Known as the Joker, he was named to his first NBA All-Star selection in 2019 after a 20-10 season where he led the Nuggets to one of the best records in the league. This Serbian big man is only 24-years old and isn’t an event at his peak yet. However, his ability to dominate games with his inside game, outside shooting and passing skills are remarkable. Jokic has not missed more than 9 games in any NBA season and if he stays healthy as well, look for him to get his second straight All-Star appearance.
Kawhi Leonard’s move to Toronto changed the NBA landscape last season. Leonard led the Toronto Raptors to their first-ever NBA title and won the 2019 NBA Finals MVP in the process. However, Leonard left Toronto to sign with the Los Angeles Clippers last summer. His role with the Clippers isn’t expected to change as he is going to be the main man there. He will team up with Paul George but that isn’t going to change anything at all. Leonard is only 28-years old and isn’t even in his peak. You bet he’s going to be an All-Star this season. But as with AD and Jokic, injuries are going to be an issue.
Between AD, Jokic and Kawhi Leonard, the player with the most injury risk is Anthony Davis who had plenty of injuries ( thank God all have been minor ) in his young career. Jokic has been relatively healthy and except for the Quad injury he suffered in San Antonio, Leonard hasn’t been injury prone as well. I expect the competition in the Western Conference to be as stiff as ever. If I am going to bet on one of the three sure-fire All-Stars, I would go with Kawhi Leonard as having the most value.
The next line of players is composed of Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, Bradley Beal, Luka Doncic, Kemba Walker and Damian Lillard. Irving has transferred to the Brooklyn Nets. Uncle Drew is a six-time All-Star and he’s missed the midseason classic just once in the last seven years and that was in 2016 when he played just 53 games. It was also the season when he hit the big three-pointer in Game 7 to seal the Cleveland Cavaliers’ first NBA title. Irving is going to be the star in Brooklyn and without Kevin Durant this year, he is going to carry a huge load. Barring injuries, Irving is an All-Star this year.
Jimmy Butler is now playing for the Miami Heat. Since being named as the NBA’s Most Improved Player in 2014, he has been named to the All-Star team in four out of five seasons. He missed out last year because he played a lesser role alongside Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. But playing for a team who didn’t have a dominant scorer last season, Butler will surely pick up the slack. And he’s someone who can do just that. Jimmy Butler as All-Star? Yes, for me.
Bradley Beal will be the main man in Washington with John Wall hurt but I don’t see him making the All-Star team this season. Sure, he will get all the focus in Washington but I think the Wizards will be bad that he is going to get snubbed. Luka Doncic had a terrific rookie season but with Kristaps Porzingis back, I’m not 100% sold out on Luka. Remember that Jayson Tatum had an equally impressive rookie season two years ago. Tatum suffered the sophomore slump last season. I had the same feeling with Doncic. Kemba Walker is a terrific scorer but I’m not sure if he can handle the pressure of leading the Celtics. Boston also has plenty of talent so I’m not sure if Walker will be the dominant player there. I didn’t like how he couldn’t lead the US Team in the FIBA World Cup last summer.
As for Damian Lillard, he’s been in some of the most notorious NBA All-Star snubs ever. But he’s made the team in the last two seasons. With nothing changing much in Portland and Lillard being a healthy guy who’s missed just a total of 25 games in seven seasons, I think he’s an All-Star this season. Between, Kyrie Irving, Jimmy Butler, and Damian Lillard, I will pick Damian Lillard because he has a better betting value. Of course, Kyrie and Jimmy play in the East, a weaker conference but Lillard has been an All-Star in the last two seasons. I like Damian Lillard in this group.
Scrolling down the list, I like Ben Simmons at -300 because Ben was already impressive last year in his second season and he didn’t get the call. With Jimmy Butler and J.J. Redick gone, Simmons and Embiid will get plenty of ball touches this season. I think both will make the All-Star team this season. Paul George at -250 and Blake Griffin at -180 are also excellent picks, however, George’s current injury makes me doubt him right now. As for Griffin, we know he had a bounce-back year last season but he was hurt in the playoffs and that’s a red flag for me.
Russell Westbrook is playing with James Harden but remembers he played with PG 13 last season and still made the All-Star team. Westbrook is a very talented player and he is always keeping track of his stats ( I think so ). He’s going to be an All-Star, even if he shares the ball with Harden in Houston. I remember Rudy Gobert crying about missing the All-Star team last season. Well, he was named Defensive Player of the Year at season’s end but I think he’s going to cry again this year. I like the chances of his Jazz teammate Donovan Mitchell who seems to be a player who can force things to happen. Sure, Gobert is the NBA’s best defensive player but Mitchell makes better All-Star material. I like Rusell Westbrook and Donovan Mitchell on the list too.
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