The first batch of NBA All-Star votes have come out, and if things stand pat it looks pretty likely that Donovan Mitchell will be a starter in the NBA All-Star Game in Salt Lake City on February 19, 2023. It will be the first All-Star starter for the Cleveland Cavaliers since LeBron James in 2018.
Mitchell has been having an unbelievable season, averaging 28.8 points, 3.9 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game. Of course, he also has a 71-point game against the Chicago Bulls under his belt. In his first season with the Cleveland Cavaliers, he has propelled the team to a top-four seed in the east and has the Cavs emerging as a legit threat to come out of the East.
Unfortunately, Mitchell may be the only Cavs’ player to be a starter in the All-Star game, and he may be the only Cav to be at the game, period. Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen is currently 10th in frontcourt votes for East All-Stars, and Darius Garland is likewise 10th in backcourt votes for the East.
With Garland missing games due to various injuries, he may miss out on this year’s showcase of stars. The backcourt for the East All-Stars is a deep one, too. Jaylen Brown of the Boston Celtics, James Harden of the Philadelphia 76ers, DeMar DeRozan of the Chicago Bulls, Kyrie Irving of the Brooklyn Nets and Trae Young of the Atlanta Hawks are among the guards being considered for the All-Star game being held in Utah.
Jarrett Allen is facing the same uphill battle. Joel Embiid of the 76ers, Jayson Tatum of the Celtics, Giannis Antetokoumpo of the Milwaukee Bucks and Kevin Durant of the Nets are among the frontcourt players in the running for the All-Star game. Like Garland, Allen has missed some time with injuries, as well.
Ultimately, I believe the fans voted well for the first batch of votes that have come in. If the results stand pat this will be an emotional moment for Mitchell, as he will be coming back to the city where he spent the first five seasons of his NBA career. To return as a starter will be even grander. If the injury bug didn’t hit the Cavs, we would be talking about more guys representing them in Salt Lake City.