NBA 2018-19: 5 Potential All-Stars from the South West Divison

Every year the NBA names the 24 best players in the league, and we get to see two 12-man teams play against each other in an exhibition match showing off the most talented player sin the league.

24 players and only 30 teams mean that at least 6 teams (3 per conference) would miss out on having any All-Stars, and that was if only All-Star was taken per team, but in the NBA you have teams that have multiple All-Stars.

This means it can be hard to pick All-Stars when focusing in on divisions as perhaps no teams in that division would have any All-Star players. This can become an even harder exercise when looking at the conferences side by side and seeing who is playing in each conference.

Taking last season for an example, 4 of the 12 All-Stars in the Western Conference came from one team (Golden State Warriors had Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson & Draymond Green), and two of the starters came from another team (New Orleans with Anthony Davis & an uninjured DeMarcus Cousins). That is half of the spots taken in two teams, leaving 13 teams to fill 6 spots!

You also have to then take into account trades, signings and injuries that have happened so far - for example, there is no getting around that LeBron Jame is now part of the Western Conference, meaning that there is one less spot here and one more spot in the Eastern Conference. It makes it even harder to pick when you break each conference down into its five-team division. Looking specifically at the South West Division, here are five players that could make the All-Star team.

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#1 Anthony Davis

New Orleans Pelicans, 5 x All-Star

Anthony Davis is an almost certain lock for the

Anthony Davis is one of the best players in the league, perhaps even the best. He started off the year being touted as a potential MVP, and even stated in an interview with ESPN that he is 'the best player in the league.'

Davis has missed some games due to injury this season but is averaging 27.1 PPG, 12.9 RPG, 4.8 APG, and a huge 2.7 BPG. Davis needs to continue to elevate his form after the Pelicans have been up and down so far through the first 20 games but is well on his way to proving that he could be the MVP.

Davis' spot in the Western All-Stars is also helped by the injured DeMarcus Cousins not taking up an F/C position, and Kawhi Leonard now being traded to the Eastern Conference.

#2 Marc Gasol

Memphis Grizzlies, 3 x All Star

Marc Gasol has become a top two-way player through the first 20 games of the season

At the beginning of the season, no one would have pegged the Grizzlies as a play-off contender, and no one would have guessed that they would have sat a top the Western Conference after the first portion of the season.

But perhaps the biggest surprise has been Marc Gasol's form this season so far. Averaging 18.5 PPG & 9.4 RPG, it hasn't just been Gasol's box scores that have been impressive. It has been his playmaking and defensive end skills as well.

Paired with Mike Conley and rookie Jaren Jackson Jr, they have elevated a team that everyone had written off into a serious play off contender. The question surrounding Gasol and the Grizzlies will be if his body can hold up, but at this stage, Gasol is a lock-in for an All-Star selection.

#3 James Harden

Houston Rockets, 6 x All-Star

Harden has stood out among the average Houston Rockets this season

James Harden began the season as the reigning MVP, and part of a Houston team that had come off of a 65 win season, but the start to the season for the Rockets has not been what was expected.

Currently sitting 14th in the Western Conference, they seem to have not been able to pull it together. That being said, Harden is still averaging 31.1 PPG, 5.6 RPG & 8.7 APG, and put together a 54 point game against Washington.

Losing Trevor Ariza, and Luc Mbah A Moute, as well as a decline in Chris Paul's averages, had made it more difficult for Harden to excel as he did within a team context, but I am sure that Harden will still be an All-Star this year. The question is can he help the Rockets get back atop the Western Conference as the season progresses.

#4 DeMar DeRozan

San Antonio Spurs, 4 x All-Star

DeMar DeRozan has been strong in his first season as a Spur

One of the biggest bombshells of the trade period that Kawhi Leonard to Toronto, while DeRozan was heading to San Antonio. The North's beloved son was heading as far away from Toronto as one could ever imagine, and into a different team and a different conference.

The Spurs have had a rough start to the season, but DeRozan has still performed admirably. Averaging 24 PPG, 5.8 RPG & 6.0 APG puts him well above league average. DeRozan may have to compete against fellow teammate LaMarcus Aldridge for a spot on the All-Star team, but Aldridge's numbers have been down this season.

After 20 games into the season, it is still odd seeing DeRozan in a Spurs uniform, but if his number keep improving, then I would expect to see him in line for a fifth All-Star selection.

#5 Luke Doncic

Dallas Mavericks, Rookie

Luka Doncic has set the league ablaze in his rookie season

With the 4th pick in the 2018 NBA Draft, the Dallas Mavericks selected Luka Doncic. This is a longshot of a pick as rookies don't tend to make the All-Star team, but if any rookie is going to it could be Luka Doncic.

Doncic has come into the league with an advantage over the other American rookies in that he has been playing professional basketball in the Euroleague for the last three years, and was coming off a Euroleague MVP season.

Doncic has come into the league ready to play. Averaging 19.1 PPG, 6.5 RPG & 4.2 APG, the thing that makes Doncic so special is his court vision. The way he unlocks the opposition's defense helps him break open for a drive, or a sneaky good pass to a team mate.

At only 19 years old, even though he may not make the All-Star team (especially in a loaded Western Conference), he will definitely make it in years to come.