Searching for an All-Star: Southwest Division

The Southwest Division was represented very well in the 2014-15 All-Star Game, with one player from each of the five teams in the Division earning nods, including:

Marc Gasol – Memphis Grizzlies

Anthony Davis – New Orleans Pelicans

Tim Duncan – San Antonio Spurs

James Harden – Houston Rockets

Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks

New Spur LaMarcus Aldridge, then a member of the Portland Trail Blazers, was also named an All-Star last season. Aldridge will likely earn an All-Star selection this year with his new team in the south.

With the regular season buzz just starting to catch fire, we wondered which players who have never been named to an All-Star team have a real chance in the 2015-16 season. We’ve been breaking it down per Division all week for you in our new series “Searching For All-Stars,” and now it’s time to take a look at the Southwest Division.

Here’s a handful of players who may be honored with an All-Star designation for the first time in their career, either voted in by fans or coaches, in the Southwest Division:

Kawhi Leonard, San Antonio Spurs-

Leonard has collected an unbelievably impressive list of accomplishments during his four years in the league, including a championship title (2013-14), NBA Finals MVP designation (2013-14), NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award (2014-15) NBA All-Defensive Team (2013-14, 2014-15) and NBA All-Rookie Team (2011-12). Last season, he led the Spurs in points per game (16.5), steals (2.3), field goals (6.2) and free throws (3.2). Despite all the worthy candidates in a very stacked Western Conference, many thought leaving Leonard off the All-Star list last season was the ultimate snub. Perhaps the fact he missed 17 games from mid-December to mid-January due to a hand injury pushed voters away from him.

As talented as Leonard is on the defensive side of the ball, his offensive skills, particularly since the 2014 Finals, have soared. He’s become the very definition of what every team craves: an elite two-way player. Spurs coach Gregg Popovich recognized early on exactly what he had in Leonard and allowed him to become the focal point of the team. The Big Three – Duncan, Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili – quickly embraced the young player and accepted his role. With power scorer Aldridge now on board, Leonard will continue to shine, and improve, as this new Leonard-Aldridge Spurs era takes hold in San Antonio. It’s almost scary to think just how good Leonard, only 24 years old, can become in this league.

Famously quiet and reserved off the court as well as on the sidelines, Leonard lets his on-court performance do the talking. He seems to thrive in high-pressure moments with the spotlight glaring on him, and this year, voters will undoubtedly add “All-Star” to his already-impressive NBA resume.

Mike Conley, Memphis Grizzlies-

It’s difficult for a point guard to stand out in the Western Conference among household names like Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, Chris Paul and Damian Lillard, to name just a few. Conley has flown under the radar for years, which is unfortunate because the Grizzlies owe much of their recent success to him. He’s surely grown very tired of the “underrated” label, but that term fits him perfectly.

Conley is the engine that makes Memphis run so well. He’s excellent at getting his teammates involved and finding the open player. Watching him run the pick-and-roll is a lesson to all who want to master it, especially when it involves All-Star teammate Gasol. Conley’s basketball IQ and leadership are enviable, he’s efficient on the floor and he can score. To top it off, Conley defends. A point guard who pays attention, excels even, on the defense side is a valuable commodity.

He averaged 15.8 points, 5.4 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 three-pointers per game, while posting a 50.6 effective field goal percentage and shooting 85.9 percent from the free throw line last season. Remember when he donned a facial mask (after suffering multiple fractures around his eye) and scored 22 points last May, handing the Golden State Warriors their first loss of the postseason (and first home loss in months)? He’s that kind of team-first player. He’s an All-Star in this league. Fans might not see it or appreciate everything he does, but coaches who vote for the annual honor shouldn’t ignore him.

Chandler Parsons, Dallas Mavericks-

Parsons didn’t step foot on any court during All-Star Weekend in New York last February, but he did appear in the NBA Fashion Show. It was a lighthearted event and probably a lot of fun for Parsons, but this season, look for him to land on the All-Star team. Now starting his second season with the Mavericks and about to hit that prime NBA peak age of 27, Parsons wants a bigger role with the Mavs. Last season, he averaged 15.7 points, 4.9 rebounds, 2.4 assists and two three-pointers (highest-ranked on his team) per game.

After undergoing knee surgery last May and a period of recovery during the offseason, it appears Parsons will return healthy in time for training camp. With both Rajon Rondo and Monta Ellis departing the team (and following his failed efforts to secure Los Angeles Clippers’ center DeAndre Jordan), a much larger chunk of offensive responsibility figures to land on his shoulders this year. If he answers the call as expected – and as his better statistical numbers across the board during his time in Houston suggest – Parsons should have a big season. Expect to hear his name with greater frequency as he moves into the face-of-the-franchise role while teammate Dirk Nowitzki eyes retirement. He’s already a fan favorite, which bodes well when fans start casting votes for All-Star positions.

Though we didn’t give him a separate category here, new Maverick Wesley Matthews might turn heads this year as well. He has the potential as a future All-Star selection based on how his considerable talents will be showcased in Dallas along with plenty of minutes on the court. Matthews indicated he will be 100 percent by the time training camp starts, so don’t sleep on him as a candidate.

Tyreke Evans, New Orleans Pelicans-

Evans has fought through highs and lows during his NBA career – extreme ones, on either spectrum – but the fact remains that he is an extremely versatile player. New Pelicans coach Alvin Gentry recognizes how unique Evans is and plans on utilizing him in many different ways this season. Evans can play multiple positions and certainly came through for his team last year when starting point guard Jrue Holiday went down. It could be argued they would not have had any viable chance at a postseason without his efforts.

Overall, Evans consistently drops solid numbers in many categories; he averaged 16.6 points (second to Davis), 6.6 assists (second to Holiday’s 6.9 apg), 5.3 rebounds (third behind Davis and Omer Asik) and 1.3 steals last year. Though he would like to be a starter and play the point guard position (the presence of Holiday and Eric Gordon negates that idea), Evans’ versatility is a tremendous weapon for any team. This may be his year to capture an All-Star slot.

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The NBA’s Southwest Division contains All-Star player certainties (if healthy), such as stars James Harden, Dwight Howard, Davis and Aldridge, but there should be room for some new names. Breakout performances may occur this season warranting All-Star selections and, as we’ve seen many times, injuries can occur at any given moment that results in doors opening to some new All-Star faces.

In addition to our list above, which other players in the Southwest Division do you think could turn in All-Star performances this year? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.