Who should replace James Harden in the 2022 All-Star Game?

Players who deserve to take James Harden’s place in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game as a replacement. 

Newly acquired Philadelphia 76ers James Harden will not participate in the 2022 NBA All-Star Game due to an injury related to his left hamstring. That means there is one more reserve spot left for the Eastern Conference.

What player will get to have that final spot and get the All-Star nod they feel they rightfully deserve?

The person who has the power to select the All-Star game replacement is non-other than NBA commissioner Adam Silver. He has the power to chose who replaces the nine-time All-Star James Harden. I think there are four legit players who deserve to have that final roster spot.

• Pascal Siakam (PF), Toronto Raptors– The 27-year-old one-time All-Star from Cameroon is having yet another fantastic season in the NBA. In 2021-2022  he is averaging 22.1 points, 8.7 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. He has also increased his field goal percentage to .500% and has increased his three-point percentage from .297% to .356% compared to last season. Siakam is a leader on the Raptors and the team is 31-24 sitting at seventh in the East. Pascal can do it all. He can pass, he can shoot three’s and mid-range, and also attack the basket and has a lanky frame that helps him to average 1.3 steals per game.
• Miles Bridges (PF/SF), Charlotte Hornets– Bridges is having his best season as a pro numbers-wise and I consider him a very underrated player. He is averaging seven more points per game, 1.1 rebounds, and 1.4 more assists per game than hid last season. The boost in his scoring is where I think Bridges has made the most improvement in his game. Last season he finished right at 50 percent from the field and is averaging just under that with 48 percent in 2022. He is a dual-threat player on offense being able to shoot from almost anywhere and is known for his powerful dunks. The lefty is looking to be selected for his first All-Star game.
• Jarrett Allen (PF/C), Cleveland Cavaliers– Another player having their best season yet is the big man Jarrett Allen. He is making the most of the $100 million dollar deal he signed in the off-season. Allen is averaging 3 more points, 1.2 rebounds, and .1 more assists in 2022 compared to last year. Averaging a double-double in the NBA is no light task but standing at 6-foot-11 with a 7-foot-6 wingspan will definitely help. He and the Cavaliers are in third in the East. If not selected, he will still be a key piece in determining how far Cleveland goes in the playoffs.
• Jrue Holiday (PG/SG), Milwaukee Bucks– Reigning NBA champion Jrue Holiday had a great year of basketball in 2021. He won his first NBA title and then shortly after, won an Olympic gold medal with the Men’s USA Basketball. Despite that success, Holiday has only been named an All-Star one other time in his career and that was in the 2012-13 season. He is regarded as one of the top defenders in the league and he is averaging 18 points, 4.7 rebounds, and 6.6 assists. Don’t forget he has made the All-Defensive team three times. The Bucks are 35-22 and sit at fourth in the Eastern Conference.

All four of the players above deserve to be an All-Star but sadly only one of them can have that final spot. I may even be wrong in who I think deserves the selection. The NBA commissioner may see it differently than me and maybe he thinks Jaylen Brown deserves a spot. This is just my opinion and no final word has been said.