Picking the NBA's Eastern Conference All-Star reserves

With the Eastern ConferenceAll-Star starters set, let’s look at the players who deserve areserve slot for the East All-Star team this season. Check out our Western ConferenceAll-Star reserve picks here.

Guard: Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks

This pick is a no-brainer.Brunson is the head of the snake for a New York Knicks team that’sbeen the best in the NBA since the turn of the calendar, going anNBA-best 14-2 in January. If not for falling short in fan voting(ranking just fifth), he would have been an All-Star starter. The6-foot-2 guard ranked third and second in player and media voting,respectively, earning the respect of his peers and the media alikedue to his ongoing stellar season. He’s currently averaging 27points, 6.5 assists and 4 rebounds per game for the third-placeKnicks. Brunson is surefire and deserving All-Star.

Guard: Donovan Mitchell, ClevelandCavaliers

Equally as deserving as Brunson,Mitchell is the second player (and guard) I'd select as an Eastreserve. He’s averaging 27.7 points, 6.3 assists and 5.5 reboundsper outing and is leading one of the hottest teams in the NBA, asthe Cavs recently went on an eight-game winning streak. What makesthis recent stretch even more impressive is that Mitchell did thiswithout All-Star backcourt mate Darius Garland and forward EvanMobley, who have been out with injuries. Despite surfacing in sometrade rumors early in the season, Mitchell put his head down andwent to work, earning himself an All-Star spot thisseason.

Forward: Jaylen Brown, Boston Celtics

Celtics forward Jaylen Brown hascertainly picked up right where he left off last season afterrecently signing his lucrative $300 million extension. Brown hasbeen the second-best player on the best team in the NBA, averaging22.6 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists a game. He provides amplesupport for Celtics teammate and All-Star starter Jayson Tatum andat times carries the offensive load when Tatum is not on the floor.Boston would not be the juggernaut they are without the 6-foot-6Brown’s perimeter defense, dynamic three-level scoring and improvedpick-and-roll decision-making.

Forward: Paolo Banchero, Orlando Magic

Blossoming into a true alpha forthe Magic this season, Banchero has turned heads with his play. The2022 No. 1 overall pick is averaging 23 points, 7 rebounds and 5assists and he has yet to miss a game (47 games played). Bancherois one of only three players with the same numbers this seasonwhile shooting 38% from three, with the other two being All-Starstarters LeBron James and Luka Doncic. The Magic are in the thickof a tight Eastern Conference playoff race, and Banchero has been abig reason why. The 6-foot-10, 250-pound forward has produced inclutch moments and had a number of dominant performances despitebeing just a sophomore in this league. Without him, Orlando wouldbe a totally different team.

Center: Bam Adebayo, Miami Heat

Although the Miami Heat havebeen in a slump as of late, Bam Adebayo has shown up night in andnight out while producing the same type of efficiency and numbershe's known for. Adebayo is averaging 20.7 points, 10.5 rebounds,4.2 assists, 1.1 blocks and a steal while serving as a two-wayanchor for the Heat. A lot of Miami's offensive possessions havebeen initiated by Adebayo, whether it be dribble handoffs,screening actions or him going to work from the free-throw line. Heis having a career-year in terms of scoring while still playing ata high level on defense. For a Heat team that's been missing keyplayers all season long, Adebayo has been rock-solid and that willlikely earn him another All-Star nod.

Wildcard: Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers

A Most Improved Playercandidate, Maxey has taken his game to new heights this season.He’s bumped up his scoring average from 20.3 to 25.7 points a game,and transitioned into a full-time point guard after James Harden’sdeparture. Maxey has learned to balance his scoring andfacilitating, emerging as a perfect No. 2 option alongside reigningMVP Joel Embiid. Their partnership has been lethal, averaging themost combined points by a duo this season. Maxey’s ascension to alegit second option this season didn't go unnoticed, as he earnedthe respect of his fellow players and media, ranking second andfourth, respectively, in their voting ballots. This all adds up tothe first All-Star berth for the 6-foot-3 guard.

Wildcard: Trae Young, Philadelphia 76ers

Even though the Atlanta Hawkshave been underperforming, it's hard not to notice Young’s exploitsthis season. He is the only player in the league averaging 26points and 10 assists, and he has the most 30-point, 10-assistgames (13). Although Young finished second in fan voting among Eastguards, he'll likely need to earn a wildcard spot in order to makethe East team. Sure, one can argue Young’s stats do not impactwinning and somone like Boston’s Derrick White deserves the nodover him because his team is atop of the standings. But I believeYoung's sheer excellence this season has earned him aspot.

Snubs: JuliusRandle (Forward, New YorkKnicks); Derrick White (Guard, Boston Celtics);Kristaps Porzingis (Center, Boston Celtics); JimmyButler (Forward, MiamiHeat)

Probably the toughest cut wasJulius Randle, who was having a good season with the nowthird-place Knicks before dislocating his shoulder. He might stillbe named an All-Star and then a replacement would be named in hisplace, which would allow Randle and his replacement to berecognized. White’s impact on winning for the top-ranked Celticsstands out and should warrant an All-Star spot if the East didn'thave several star guards who are putting up ridiculous stats.Porzingis and Butler, on the other hand, have missed a considerableamount of games, which weakens their case.

Check out our Western Conference All-Starreserve picks here.