The Boston Celtics Starting Five is Starting the 2023-24 NBA All Star Game
The NBA recently released the first returns for the 2023–24 All-Star Fan Vote, and the Boston Celtics are the only team with all five starters in the top 10.
While I get that this is just the fan vote, and the Celtics probably won’t end up with all five players — Tatum, Brown, White, Holiday, Porziņģis — starting in the All-Star game, as a Celtics fan, it’s certainly something I can appreciate.
Frontcourt:
3. Jayson Tatum — 1,765,919
5. Jaylen Brown — 426,589
8. Kristaps Porziņģis — 197,234
Guards:
8. Derrick White — 175,940
10. Jrue Holiday — 145,144
Leading the team in votes is Jayson Tatum, who has not only started the last two All-Star games but also dropped 55 points and secured the game’s MVP award last year. He again is in prime position to start his third consecutive All-Star game this year.
Jaylen Brown, a two-time All-Star, aims to secure another spot on the team this year. With the Celtics off-season acquisitions, the team was going to need Brown to play a role he hadn’t played before in his career. Despite the new role, he believes he’s playing the best basketball of his career, on both ends of the court. If the fans, media and players can’t get him enough votes to be in the starting five, I’m confident the head coaches will vote him in as a reserve.
Kristaps Porziņģis or Porzingod as I like to call him is the best thing to happen to the Celtics during the Tatum-Brown era. Despite initial skepticism about the trade that brought him in, Porziņģis has proven to be a valuable addition to this Celtics team. His dynamic post play and ability to stretch the court is something this team has needed for years. KP is currently 8th in the frontcourt fan vote. I doubt we see him as a starter but his performance this year is making a strong case for a reserve spot.
Derrick White is having a career year and receiving praise from teammates, coaches, fans, the media and even opposing coach like Greg Popovich. He won’t make the All-Star game as a starter but there’s hope that the head coaches around the league will recognize his play and reward him with a reserve spot. HE DESERVES IT!
Jrue Holiday’s play has been exactly what I hoped for when the Celtics traded for him this offseason. He consistently makes the right plays showcasing his elite decision-making skills. The difference between watching Marcus Smart and Jrue Holiday play alongside Jayson and Jaylen is night and day. Holiday’s fit with the team is evident, and I only wish the Celtics had acquired him earlier. Although I doubt he makes the All-Star team this year, his team basketball approach does not go unnoticed or unappreciated from Celtics fans.
While JT and JB might not be posting career-best statistics, their team-focused approach is benefiting players like Derrick White, Jrue Holiday, and Kristaps Porzingis. While each of these players would be thrilled to be selected for the All-Star game, I am confident that they, along with the entire Celtics team, have a much larger goal in mind — BANNER 18.
