The NBA All-Star Game is fun. It’s not super competitive, but players still are able to show off their impressive skills in a highlight reel-friendly contest. I believe that the selection process and predictions leading up to the midseason break are actually the most fun part of the All-Star Game, though.
USAbetting has checked in with some of MyBookie’s player prop bets for the 2020 All-Star Game and has five bets that appear worth taking.
Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons (-180 with MyBookie)
The clear best player from a playoff team is usually a strong All-Star candidate. Griffin is no exception, and considering he is arguably a top-15 player in the NBA playing in the inferior conference, he should be essentially a lock for All-Star honors this year.
Last year, Griffin continued developing his increasingly consistent three-point stroke (36.2 percent on seven attempts per game) while showing out overall on offense with 5.4 assists alongside a career-high 24.5 points per game.
This year, he remains the Pistons’ clear top option on offense, and his willingness to adapt his game to the league’s latest trends means he should continue to thrive despite turning 30 in March.
Pascal Siakam, Toronto Raptors (+100 with MyBookie)
Siakam was the rightful winner of the NBA’s Most Improved Player of the Year award last year, taking the leap from strong energy reserve to fringe All-Star in the Eastern Conference. In fact, he had a very strong argument to make the game last year.
In the upcoming season, the departure of Kawhi Leonard to the Los Angeles Clippers makes Siakam’s All-Star chances significantly higher. Not only does Leonard’s move open up an Eastern Conference frontcourt spot, it gives Siakam a chance to grow into an even bigger offensive role.
In 2018-19, Siakam averaged around 17 points, seven rebounds and three assists per game on excellent efficiency. His defense was also quite strong. I expect him to bump up those digits to around 20, eight and four with slightly worse efficiency and around the same level of defense. That should secure him a spot in an Eastern Conference that doesn’t have many elite frontcourt players.
Khris Middleton, Milwaukee Bucks (+200 with MyBookie)
I don’t believe Middleton is quite worth the five-year, $177.4 million contract he signed this summer. However, he is still a solid second option for the title-contending Bucks who should put up good enough numbers to earn himself an All-Star spot in the much less competitive East.
Middleton could shoulder a bit bigger of an offensive load in 2019-20 with Malcolm Brogdon gone from the team. Also, the Bucks won’t be quite as good as last season, which means fewer blowouts and likely more minutes for the starters.
Averages of close to 21 points, six rebounds and four assists on a top-two seed in the East should earn Middleton a reserve spot in the 2020 All-Star Game.
Draymond Green, Golden State Warriors (+300 with MyBookie)
Green’s regular season performance a year ago was very lackluster. He was out of shape and dealing with nagging injuries for much of the campaign, and his play was not very motivated. He registered his lowest scoring and rebounding averages since 2013-14 and his lowest assist average since 2014-15. He drained just 28.5 percent of his three-point attempts despite teams always leaving him wide open.
He trimmed down at the end of the season and came alive in the postseason, looking like the game-changer he has been in the past. In particular, he was an absolute monster on defense, even though the Warriors couldn’t quite secure a third straight championship.
This year, the Warriors have a weaker roster and are being discounted as legitimate championship contenders by many people. Now that his contributions are more necessary during the regular season, I think Green will show a lot more effort and dedication to being his best during the regular season and put himself firmly in the All-Star conversation.
LaMarcus Aldridge, San Antonio Spurs (+400 with MyBookie)
Every NBA All-Star Game since 1998 has featured at least one San Antonio Spur. Not surprisingly, the franchise has made the playoffs in each of those seasons and has never won fewer than 47 games.
MyBookie’s odds reflect a strong belief that the All-Star streak will stop this year, apparently. I’m not buying it, though.
Aldridge is nowhere near a lock, but I strongly believe that the Spurs will hover in that 45-to-50 win range again this year and LA is San Antonio’s best player. When it comes time to select the conference reserves, NBA coaches will show a lot of respect for San Antonio’s veteran man in the middle. He is likely going to post another season of around 22 points and nine rebounds per game with solid efficiency and defense, which will be a tough campaign to ignore.
Plus, Aldridge has become a staple in the midseason festivities, earning his spot in the All-Star Game in a remarkable seven of the past eight seasons.
Jared is a lifelong sports fan and writer whose specialist subject is NBA. A 2015 graduate of Indiana Wesleyan University, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism, Jared has been a sought-after freelance sports writer. In addition to his valuable USA Betting contributions, he has also written for other top media outlets.