15 games into the season, the Indiana Pacers lie in the middle of the pack in the Eastern Conference with a 6-9 win-loss card, a relatively okay record at this juncture considering that the Blue and Gold started off their campaign in putrid fashion amidst injuries and a new system, losing six out of their first seven contests.
While the Pacers are far from headline-grabbers, the team is still home to some talented difference-makers who should warrant All-Star consideration in next year’s festivities. Sure, the East’s household names cannot b trumped in popularity contests, but away from the casual eye, Indiana should not be devoid of someone to represent them in the All-Star game.
The Indiana Pacers should still be represented in the All-Star game this season
The Indiana Pacers have been represented in the All-Star game in every year since 2015, where the Blue and Gold failed to field one due to Paul George’s freak injury. In the previous two seasons, Domantas Sabonis repped the Blue and Gold, cementing his status as one of the league’s best young stars. Overall, the Circle City has been home to an All-Star nine times in the last ten years.
Indy doesn’t have a household name unlike their more glamorous counterparts, but these three players should warrant All-Star consideration with how they have performed so far in the season. In this piece, we rank them all and deduce who’s most likely to represent the Pacers in the All-Star game.
Myles Turner’s DPOY-level impact for the Indiana Pacers could net him All-Star consideration
Look, I know that defensive-minded centers barely get All-Star consideration in this offense-driven league. Gone are the days of Roy Hibbert and Tyson Chandler being featured in February’s festivities. Aside from three-time Defensive Player of the Year Rudy Gobert, whose inclusion wasn’t even unanimous, big men who are not as sterling offensively barely get the necessary clout for the All-Star Game.
Under the right circumstances, however, Myles Turner may get some All-Star consideration if he builds on his impressive start to the season and continues to be a dominant defensive force. The East certainly boasts some mighty names on the frontcourt who would be better choices than him, but the Indiana Pacers big man is not negligible.
To be frank, with his current numbers, the All-Star game may be a reach for Turner, despite him being the catalyst for one of the most egregious team defense shifts in the league when he is on the court. His 13.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game may ultimately downplay his impressive advanced defensive metrics and league-leading 3.3 blocks per contest, but if he increases his scoring output, look out, but maybe not so far away.
Honorable Mention: Caris LeVert
Domantas Sabonis should be in the mix to represent the Indiana Pacers in the All-Star game for the third straight year
Indiana Pacers big man Domantas Sabonis has quietly been among the most consistent all-around frontcourt cogs in recent years. Since the 2019-20 NBA season, the Lithuanian center has tallied 108 double-doubles, fourth among active players in that span. The result? two consecutive All-Star nods for the 25-year-old.
While Domas’ stats have been more modest to begin the season than in the previous campaign, Sabonis should get his usual numbers back as he fully adapts to Rick Carlisle’s new offense as one of the Pacers’ primary catalysts on that end. Alas, even if he sticks to his current stats, his consecutive All-Star nods in the last two season should automatically catapult him into consideration.
The most glaring obstacle for him returning for a third straight All-Star appearance, however, is the depth of frontcourt talents in the conference. Until Indiana starts winning more games with Sabonis as the clear top dog, nabbing another spot in the exclusive club this season culd very well be more difficult than in the last two years.
Indiana Pacers top scorer Malcolm Brogdon could clinch an All-Star nod for the first time in his career
While Sabonis has been the Indiana Pacers’ lone All-Star and undisputed best player in the past two campaigns, the script has been flipped a tad this season. So far, Malcolm Brogdon has emerged as the Blue and Gold’s leader, not only off the court, but also in the hardwood.
Averaging 22.4 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 6.8 assists per game, Brogdon has clearly been thriving as the team’s foremost option on offense, leading the team in both points and assists while being one of the league leaders in clutch scoring. Although his shooting splits and efficiency have not been eye-popping at all to begin the season, it wouldn’t surprise me if the 28-year-old gets some serious All-Star love in his sixth season in the league.
Like Sabonis, Brogdon is improbable to win the popularity contest, but he should be a viable recipient of All-Star consideration when coaches and the media lock in their votes for the bench. While the East has a lot of talented guards to choose from, The President, with his brilliant play so far, could be an All-Star for the first time in his career.