The NBA All-Star Game takes place in a little more than two months, and voting for starters begins next week. While some of the league’s biggest names are near locks to make it to Indianapolis, some newcomers and lesser known players are also putting together solid seasons and making cases for their selection. That includes a pair of Texas big men.
San Antonio Spurs rookie Victor Wembanyama, the top pick in this year’s NBA Draft, came into the league with high expectations thanks to highlights from his games in Europe showing off his talents. The 7-foot-4 Frenchman is listed as a power forward, but his game is not just focused around the post.
In Houston, 6-11 center Alperen Şengün is enjoying a breakout campaign in his third NBA season. He leads the Rockets in scoring and rebounding and is also one of the league’s top defensive players.
Both players are putting up numbers that make them worthy of an All-Star selection, but will either or both earn their first appearance in the star-studded game? BetTexas.com is always thinking with a Texas sports betting mindset, so we developed hypothetical odds of which NBA players have the best chance of being a first-timer NBA all-star for the 2024 game.
First-Time NBA All Stars in 2023-24 Odds
Last year’s NBA All-Star game featured six first-timers on the roster, so who will be the next? We developed hypothetical odds of which NBA players have the best chance of being a first-timer NBA all-star for the 2024 game. These are odds you may not find on Texas betting apps if they were legal, but information you could use to help you decide how to wager on certain future bets.
Don't Be Surprised to See Wenbanyama's Odds Rise
While the Spurs are just 3-20 and the rookie has struggled at times, he’s still putting up some big numbers.
He’s averaging a double-double through the first 22 games (19.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game). He’s shooting just 43.7% and has committed 76 turnovers, but he also ranks second in the league in blocks and his rebounding average is eighth-best
The Spurs big man is coming off his best game of the season. On Wednesday, he scored 30 points in a 122-119 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. He displayed all his skills as he finished the game with 13 rebounds and six blocks while sinking 4-of-5 3-pointers.
Şengün doesn’t have Wemby’s name recognition, but his stats through the season's first quarter can’t be ignored, especially for a team that’s in position for a playoff spot.
The Turkish center is on pace to post career highs in scoring (20.0 ppg), rebounds (9.1 rpg) and assists (5.4 apg). With those stats, it’s not surprising that Şengün already has two triple-doubles this season.
But Şengün may be having a better season defensively. He’s fifth in the NBA with a 106.6 defensive rating, and his 1.4 defensive win shares are the sixth-best in the league.
Last year’s All-Star Game featured six first-timers. If this year’s game lands that many, chances are that these Texas big men will be part of that select group.
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