The NBA regular season is full of excitement, and the 2025 San Francisco All-Star voting is in full swing! Over the past 80 days, the league has been fiercely competitive, with stars from different generations showcasing their skills for team records and rankings, as well as All-Star spots! According to the first round of official All-Star voting results released by the NBA, players like Jokic and Alexander from the West, and Antetokounmpo, Tatum, and Towns from the East have almost secured their starting positions with impeccable performances. The arrival of new talent means that many regular starters may have to give up their spots, such as Durant from the Suns, who is finding it difficult to secure a starting position in the Western Conference All-Stars!
Curry was once one of the top players in the league, having won 2 championships, 1 FMVP, 2 MVPs, 2 All-Star MVPs, 4 scoring titles, and made 14 All-Star appearances, ranking 7th in NBA history. He also made 12 All-Star starts, ranking 4th in NBA history, behind Jordan (13 times), Kobe (18 times), and James (20 times). In the past four seasons, Durant has been selected to the All-Star starting lineup for four consecutive years, showing his "Death God" aura as he gets older and more stable. However, the problem lies in the fact that while the "Death God" may still be able to wield his scythe, he no longer has the power to lead the troubled Suns to create waves in the league!
In the new season, the Suns have started strong but have since faltered, with ups and downs that are not a good omen. So far, the Suns have only managed a record of 16 wins and 19 losses, placing them 12th in the West, one game behind the 11th-seeded Kings and the 10th-seeded Spurs (also 18 wins and 19 losses), three games behind the 6th-seeded Lakers (20 wins and 16 losses), 4.5 games behind the 4th-seeded Nuggets (21 wins and 15 losses), and a whopping 13.5 games behind the top-seeded Thunder (30 wins and 6 losses). This means that the Suns face a significant challenge in reaching the playoffs directly, and whether they can even secure a play-in spot will depend on the performance of teams like the Spurs, Warriors, Timberwolves, and Clippers.
The Suns' current situation is due to factors such as roster depth and injury concerns. While Durant still has the ability to compete, he has repeatedly played the role of a tragic hero. On November 28 against a weakened Nets lineup, Durant scored 30 points and 8 assists in vain; on December 20 against the Pacers, he scored 37 points and 10 rebounds to no avail; on December 22 against the Pistons, he scored 43 points, 5 rebounds, and 6 assists to no avail; on December 28 against a weakened Mavericks lineup, he scored 35 points to no avail; and on December 29 against the Warriors, he scored 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 6 assists to no avail. This is the reality of the new season for Durant, who is facing tough challenges!
So far this season, Durant has played 25 games for the Suns, averaging 36 minutes per game, scoring 27.4 points, 6.5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, 1.3 blocks, and 2.3 three-pointers per game, with shooting percentages of 51.7%, 40.8%, and 84.2% respectively. Without a doubt, Durant's performance remains at an All-Star level. According to the first round of official All-Star voting results released by the NBA, Durant ranks second among Western Conference frontcourt players, just behind Jokic, narrowly surpassing LeBron and Wembanyama. However, in my opinion, this does not necessarily mean that Durant will be selected to the All-Star starting lineup, for two reasons!
Firstly, the Suns' record is simply embarrassing, and while fans may still adore him, it remains to be seen whether the coaches of the 30 teams recognize his leadership abilities. Secondly, while Durant is impressive, his competitors are even more so! There are only three starting spots available for the Western Conference All-Stars, and Jokic is sure to take one, with his superhuman performance needing no further description. LeBron and Wembanyama are Durant's biggest competitors. What does Durant have to overcome them? Let's take LeBron as an example, who has played 33 games, averaging 23.8 points, 7.7 rebounds, and 8.8 assists, leading the Lakers to a top 6 record in the West, showing that he gets better with age. As for Wembanyama, he has played 32 games, averaging 25.1 points, 10.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists, 1 steal, and 4 blocks (leading the league), leading the Spurs to a 10th place finish in the West, with a promising future ahead!
LeBron represents the past, Jokic represents the present, and Wembanyama represents the future. It is expected that Durant will once again become a supporting player! As we all know, LeBron is the evergreen of the league, and because of LeBron's presence, the cap of being the "perennial second" on Durant's head has never been removed, not in the past and not now either. Wembanyama is the face of the league's future, handsome, capable, and a darling. Based on his offensive and defensive performance and my understanding of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, the league will undoubtedly use all resources to build Wembanyama, making it reasonable to send him to the All-Star starting lineup! Although those climbing the mountain should not mock those descending, sports competition is so cruel and merciless. Veterans may not die, but they will eventually step down from the pedestal. Therefore, I'm sorry, Durant, you need to prepare mentally for the possibility of not making the All-Star starting lineup!
What do you think about this, basketball fans? Leave your comments and let's discuss it!