NBA: Way-too-early Eastern Conference All-Star predictions

6. James Harden – Brooklyn Nets

All-Star appearances sometimes act with a sort of snowball effect; the more you have, the more you are likely to get another one whilst you are still playing. Players like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and Larry Bird would get All-Star nods even when they weren’t producing what other NBA players were giving.

This is because they built their legacy to the point when they’ve earned the spot until they retire in the basketball community’s eyes.

Now, I am not saying James Harden is on the same level as Kobe and MJ, but there’s no doubt that this past decade has made Harden a household name when it comes to the All-Star game. He’s been selected for the past nine seasons. He’s also averaging 20.8 PPG, 7.9 RPG and 9.6 APG. His scoring may be down, but Harden is still producing for the Brooklyn Nets who are currently 19-8.