As NBA All-Star voting has just opened up, it is the time of the year where fans will vote in their favorite players to represent their team in San Francisco. Unsurprisingly, the team with the best record in the NBA, the Cleveland Cavaliers, could boast a league high four All-Stars for the weekend in February.
Cavs Could Lead NBA With 4 All-Stars
Donovan Mitchell, Darius Garland, Evan Mobley, and Jarrett Allen have been the core of a Cavs team that has started the year 23-4. They are all having career-best seasons in efficiency and should be sent to San Francisco to represent the team. Here’s the case for all four of the Cavs core members to make the All-Star Game.
Donovan Mitchell
Is there much to say? Mitchell is the best player on the best team in the NBA and a five time All-Star. Mitchell is one of the best shooting guards in the league, and he is having an extremely productive year. Despite averaging his fewest points per game, 23.3, since his rookie season, Mitchell is shooting an impressive 40.4% from three this season, a career-best. He is also averaging a career-low in minutes per game while staying right around his career averages. Mitchell is the best player on the Cavs. The former Louisville Cardinal is an elite scorer, shooter, and excels at the rim. He is an obvious choice to represent the Cavs in the Bay.
Darius Garland
Garland was the subject of immense criticism following the 2023-24 season where he averaged just 18 points per game, his lowest since his sophomore season. However, under head coach Kenny Atkinson, he has totally turned the page. Garland is at 20.3 points per game on career-highs from both the field and from three. Garland’s three-point shooting is especially impressive considering he is taking a career-high 6.8 attempts per game while shooting 41.8%. Outside of his shooting, Garland is one of the best passers in the Eastern Conference, as he is averaging 6.5 assists and a career-low 2.5 turnovers per game. Though his numbers may not match that of his All-Star campaign in 2022, Garland has essentially improved in every aspect of the game.
Evan Mobley
Mobley is by far the most intriguing player in Cleveland. The 2021 third overall pick has taken the leap that fans have been waiting for. Mobley is averaging a career-high in field goal attempts per game, theee-point attempts per game, and points per game despite playing the fewest minutes of his career. Additionally, Mobley is still elite defensively averaging 1.1 steals and 1.5 blocks per game. Mobley has been more aggressive on the offensive end and it is paying off, as the 7-footer is shooting 41.1% from three this season. There are not many players in the NBA like Mobley, and no one can defend at his caliber while shooting like he can. Mobley is a real unicorn in today’s NBA and is deserving of his first career All-Star nod.
Jarrett Allen
Hidden under the radar of the Cavs success and the evolution of Mobley has been Allen. Allen is playing his fewest minutes per game in a Cavs uniform and also taking his fewest shots per game. However, Allen is shooting a career-high 69.5%, which ranks second in the NBA. Allen is averaging a double-double and is the unsung hero of the best team in the NBA. His efficiency has him playing the best basketball of his career, deserving of his second All-Star appearance.
The Last Word
If the Cavs send four players to San Francisco in February, it will be the 10th time this has happened in league history, tying the record. Not often do teams start as hot as Cleveland, and their team record should reflect the individual accolades the core four receive. The Cavs should have four All-Stars.
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