The current NBA season has been a thrilling affair and one that has already delivered plenty of exciting on-court action. One showcase occasion for NBA fans to look forward to that is taking place soon is the annual All-Star Game.
This is always a huge deal for anyone who follows the National Basketball Association and is also a firm staple for sports betting firms. This is not surprising when the coverage of other major global sporting events, such as the FIFA World Cup Final or Super Bowl, by sports betting brands is taken into account.
The 2024 edition of the All-Star Game will be held on Sunday, February 18 at Gainbridge Fieldhouse, Indianapolis, and is already generating lots of hype. While this event might center around huge stars like LeBron James, Nikola Jokić and Giannis Antetokounmpo, there are some other NBA pros involved who fly a little under the radar.
But who are they and what should fans tuning in for the All-Star match know about them?
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander
The NBA All-Star lineup for 2024 holds few surprises in terms of starters – but Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is one who is perhaps not that well known by all basketball fans. Although he made an instant impact at the Thunder after being traded to them in 2019, injuries blighted his career somewhat until he came to the fore again last season.
He has carried on his awesome form from 2023 into the current campaign, and has rightfully earned another All-Star call-up to recognize this. Scoring a huge 43 points in a November game against the Cavaliers shows what talent he has, and he has followed this up with multiple eye-catching performances since. A December game, in which he got 25 points, six rebounds, eight assists and two steals against the Nuggets, sums this up best!
Devin Booker
Although the Phoenix Suns Devin Booker is not a new NBA name, he is one of the Western reserves that people outside of the city might not have on their radar. This is especially true when there are huge names such as Luka Dončić who outshine him somewhat on the Western Conference team in 2024.
Booker, though, could well make an impact if called on. A 28 points per game average to date and 7.1 assists per game show that he has excellent passing, good creativity and can shoot well. At 6-foot-6, he also has the physique to compete against the best. When his form in the current season is considered (such as scoring 40 points in November against the Grizzlies or bagging 52 points in a January game against the Pelicans), it’s easy to see why he’s been selected to be part of the All-Star celebrations.
Tyrese Haliburton
After being picked up by the Kings in 2020, point guard Tyrese Haliburton left to join the Pacers in 2022 and has been on an upward trajectory since. 2023 saw him get his first All-Star call-up for the East and he has repeated this feat again as a starter in 2024. When his performances over the current campaign are taken into account, this is not a surprise.
He started the season off in fine style with a then career-high 43 points and 12 assists in a game against the Hornets in early November. This was followed up later in the month with a huge 44 points and 10 assists against the Heat. Early December 2023 saw the player score his first ever career triple-double against the Celtics. Although he might not be as well known as some of his Eastern Conference teammates, stats like this show why Haliburton has been picked to start.
Paolo Banchero
At 6-foot-10, Orlando Magic’s Paolo Banchero may be an imposing figure but he is still a young player who many NBA fans might not know too much about yet. His stunning form in the 2023/24 season, though, has earned him an All-Star reserve call-up for the East. This is in addition to Banchero winning Rookie of the Year in the previous campaign.
There is no doubt he has pushed on since that award and has taken huge steps towards superstardom this year. As a result, he is the Magic’s main man and leading scorer, assist maker and rebounder for them so far.
All-Star Game not just about huge names
All NBA fans naturally tune in to this match every year to see the biggest stars battle it out on court. It is, however, also about getting a look at the other players involved who might not be such household names. For the best under-the-radar picks to keep an eye on for 2024’s edition, those listed here are great tips.
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