

Karl-Anthony Towns and Jalen Brunson were among our writers’ consensus picks as East All-Star starters.
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From time to time, NBA.com writers will weigh in on top stories or trending topics around the league.
The format of the All-Star Game is changedBut the voting process remains the same. Who are your starters from the Eastern Conference?
(Here are our West chooses.)
Guards
- Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Front Court
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
- Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
Unlike the All-NBA teams and the league’s annual awards ballots, the All-Star Game is for the fans. So I lean towards fan voting – with occasional exceptions. Like East Backcourt, where La Milo Ball is number one. In early return. No, sorry, no way. The best two guards in the East, individually and leading their teams, have been Mitchell and Brunson, and they’ve earned that honor.
Towns easily slipped into what had become Joel Embiid’s spot on the front line. He has shown a new level of maturity on the floor. Antetokounmpo and Tatum are my starter picks from last year, but again, it’s not what my fans want. They’re just recapturing the two of them.
– Steve Aschbrenner
Guards
- Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Front Court
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
- Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
The front court puck was locks. Antetokounmpo Leads the league in scoring. While shooting over 60 percent. Tatum is having his second-highest scoring season, posting career-best numbers in rebounds and assists. Towns has been a perfect fit, taking the Knicks offense to new heights and leading the NBA. In rebounds per game.
Mitchell was an easy backcourt choice to represent the league-leading Cavs. My final guard went to Brunson over candidates like Trae Young, Damian Lillard, Tyrese Maxey and Cade Cunningham.
That makes the third-place Knicks the only East team with two starters. It came down to two top position candidates from top teams — Cleveland’s Mitchell and Derrius Garland are both guards, Boston’s Tatum and Jaylen Brown are both forwards, while New York’s Brunson and Towns are split.
– Brian Martin
Guards
- Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Front Court
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
- Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
These picks were pretty straightforward. There are other guards with higher box score numbers than Mitchell, but his numbers aren’t what they could be because his team has been so good. In the backcourt, Tyler Hero and Trae Young should be considered when it comes time to make a real pick, especially if their teams stay over .500 and finish in the top six in the East.
The same goes for frontcourt candidate Evan Mobley, who doesn’t have box score numbers but is a two-way star on the best team in the league. has been critical to success.
– John Schuman
Guards
- Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
- Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Front Court
- Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
- Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
- Karl-Anthony Towns, New York Knicks
Kudos to Mitchell, who is having a solid season and is the leader of the East’s most impressive team (by far). Brunson is once again working for the Knicks, yet the guard position isn’t nearly as talent-rich as it is in the West.
The front court is packed. Kia MVP contenders. Plot-wise, the Towns stand out only because they moved from west to east. Through Minnesota Commerceand he seems more at home with another shift, from upstate Maine to downtown New York.
– Sean Powell