The 2023 NBA All-Star game is here, and it’s going to be great. With no other NBA matchups on the slate for the weekend, things can get really interesting. Team Giannis vs Team LeBron will be an intriguing battle, and new to the fold this year, is the draft happening an hour before the beginning of the contest. This is surely going to shake things up.
Any and all NBA odds today will be about the NBA All Star Game prediction. How to project the stats in this game will be tricky as it will not be determined until right before things get going that the rosters are chosen. But with so much talent on the floor at once, the first three-quarters of the game need to be bet on closely. The fourth quarter features an Elam Ending, with the team in the lead needing 24 points from that number to win the contest.
Straight Up Odds
Team Giannis vs Team LeBron will be a fun contest. The rosters haven’t been selected yet, but the early thoughts are that Team Giannis is +108, while Team LeBron is -126. The NBA player stats for guys on both sides will be rather impressive, no matter how it’s looked at. As always, there are a number of first-time NBA All-Stars, and it’s fantastic for the game. To see guys get their first chance in the midseason classic is always a treat.
And there might be a record number of replacement players this time around. Injuries all over the place have in fact led to guys like Anthony Edwards and De’Aaron Fox being named to the game for the first of what would appear to be many times, but it’s tough to see. This is a game on the NBA schedule that folks are marking with great regularity. The stars will be out, and it will be fun.
Seeing LeBron in yet another All-Star Game feels surreal now. Since the captain/draft format came into being, this might be the most intriguing. Anybody that the King drafts to his squad is going to be playing for the game’s all-time leading scorer. Pretty wild to think he actually passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar this year. He is going to be the hottest name in the game. And after making the game-winner in last year’s battle, he’ll hope to do the same again.
All-Star MVP ODDS
Giannis (+500) and Lebron (+550)
When making NBA picks today, do it knowing that the substitution patterns are subject to change based on situations. Looking at the odds for players to win All-Star MVP, there are plenty of names that can take the honors. Of course, Giannis leads the pack at +500, with LeBron at +550, but there are some great value picks down there.
Lauri Markkanen (+3300)
Lauri Markkanen at +3300 could provide excellent value. Also, partaking in the skills challenge and the three-point shootout, it’s going to be a busy weekend for the Finland native. He’ll be representing his team well in Utah for All-Star weekend, not even having to travel anywhere. He has burst onto the scene almost out of nowhere to become one of the 20-best players in the league this season.
Luka Doncic (+650)
His shooting efficiency (51% FG, 41% 3PT) for a wing player, has been insane. If he can find that in this game where defense doesn’t ratchet up until the fourth quarter, he’ll have a chance. Luka Doncic at +650 is a good bet, as he enters the midseason classic feeling better. Might he be sharing the court with his new teammate Kyrie Irving? KAI is +800 to grab the MVP.
Donovan Mitchell (+1200)
Donovan Mitchell at +1200 could be intriguing, as he comes into the contest playing his best ball of the season. Nikola Jokic at +1900, as he could drop 20 assists without breaking a sweat in a game like this, might have nice value. Jokic is the front-runner for regular season MVP, so you know he’ll want to add another to the trophy case. The NBA team stats coming into the game may well play a role.
NBA All Star Game stats are always fun to see. When Team Giannis vs Team LeBron actually goes down, so many great players will be out there. Placing the MVP pick before the draft will allow for a higher value and more earnings to come in. But doing it after will mean more clarity on who plays where.
Sunday is going to be must-see TV. The Elam Ending will make sure the game has a memorable finish.
NBA All-Star Draft Projections For Top Pick
Let’s take a look at which players have the best chances to be the first pick. Luka Doncic leads the pack at +250. His versatile skillset and isolation dominance make him invaluable. Joel Embiid at +350 would provide the star center a quick chance to dominate. Jokic in at +400, because if Embiid is gone, he’ll likely go right after.
Kyrie and Jayson Tatum come in next at +475. LeBron would most likely take Tatum, as the two have built a strong relationship in the league. At +800 is Ja Morant, who is a highlight reel waiting to happen. Donovan Mitchell at +1400, though he is not likely to be taken first. He is a superstar and maybe the hottest shooter out of the bunch, but he projects to be a later selection.
And lastly, tied at +4000, are Anthony Edwards, Lauri Markkanen, and Shai-Gilgeous Alexander. SGA has tremendous efficiency, but will not be one of the first picks. Markkanen going first would be incredible theater, but it doesn’t appear like it’ll occur. And for Edwards, he will be one of the final starters taken. He is a great player but hasn’t proven himself to be on the same level as the earlier names.
Sunday will be a lot of fun, with the teams ready to square off, no matter the draft order. But it’s always more exciting to get a horse in the race and make wagers as to who projects to be selected when.
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