East ML (+128) over West
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- The East starting lineup is more likely to be consistently good than that of the West in this game.
- Nikola Jokic is going to be of no use for the Western Conference, which is a bad thing if things get competitive down the stretch.
In this year’s NBA All-Star Game, we have returned to the Eastern Conference vs Western Conference format. The Elam Ending is also gone, which means that we are going to have four normal quarters of 12 minutes each. Here, we break down the 2024 NBA All-Star Game, in what will be a return to normalcy on one of the biggest stages of the NBA season.
Eastern Conference
It goes without saying that the rosters for both the Eastern and Western Conferences in this year’s NBA All-Star Game are loaded, as everyone who qualifies for this game is insanely good at basketball. But the Eastern Conference roster feels better suited for a game like this one from top to bottom. Everyone on the East can either get to the rim at will or shoot threes at a consistent clip, which is why we like them to win this matchup as a slight underdog.
The starting lineup for the East is especially dangerous, consisting of Damian Lillard, Tyrese Haliburton, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, and whoever they choose to replace Joel Embiid as a starter. That fifth player will likely be either Jaylen Brown, Bam Adebayo, or Paolo Banchero, all of whom are good at either rim running or outside shooting, which is perfect for a game like this.
Western Conference
The Western Conference is also just loaded with talent in this year’s NBA All-Star Game. But there are some concerns about the construction of this team in an exhibition setting. Their starters are Luka Doncic, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, and Nikola Jokic. Jokic and Gilgeous-Alexander have games that are completely incompatible with an exhibition event like this, while it is unlikely that veterans like James and Durant turn things up for what is just another All-Star Game to them.
The bench for the West has a bunch of guys who are similar, as players like Paul George and Kawhi Leonard haven’t consistently cared about regular season games over the last few years, let alone All-Star Games. That could be the difference in this year’s game, one where the teams could combine to blast past the 361-point total.
Who Will Win NBA All-Star Game MVP?
The odds to win MVP at this year’s All-Star Game are tilted toward the Eastern Conference, with three of the top-four choices all hailing from the East. Here is the full list of candidates and their odds to take home the trophy on Sunday.
| Player | ASG MVP Odds |
|---|---|
| Giannis Antetokounmpo | +500 |
| Jayson Tatum | +600 |
| LeBron James | +750 |
| Damian Lillard | +1000 |
| Kevin Durant | +1100 |
| Devin Booker | +1200 |
| Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | +1200 |
| Anthony Edwards | +1400 |
| Tyrese Haliburton | +1400 |
| Luka Doncic | +1600 |
| Stephen Curry | +1800 |
| Jalen Brunson | +2200 |
| Donovan Mitchell | +2500 |
| Nikola Jokic | +3300 |
| Paul George | +3300 |
| Anthony Davis | +4000 |
| Jaylen Brown | +5000 |
| Bam Adebayo | +6000 |
| Kawhi Leonard | +6000 |
| Trae Young | +6000 |
| Tyrese Maxey | +6000 |
| Karl-Anthony Towns | +8000 |
| Paolo Banchero | +10000 |
| Scottie Barnes | +10000 |
Out of the choices above, Tyrese Haliburton is our top choice at +1400. While he does not carry the same name recognition as a Giannis Antetokounmpo or Jayson Tatum, he has more than enough talent to put up points in bunches in this game. Haliburton is also not afraid to hurl up threes at high volume, something that is necessary when gunning for MVP unless you are going to score on a ton of rim runs. In front of his home crowd in Indiana, Haliburton has a real shot to claim MVP honors.
Other NBA All-Star Event Previews
Along with the NBA All-Star Game, we have previews of the other major NBA All-Star Weekend events, from the three-point shooting events to the dunk contest. Just click the links below to get our picks and our in-depth thoughts on each of them.
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