NBA Season Preview 2019-20: 10 players most likely to be first-time All-Stars

4. Luka Doncic

Why he’ll make it:

The dude averaged 21.2 points, 7.8 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game in his first NBA season at 20 years old. There’s a very good chance Luka Doncic builds on that in Year 2 now that he’s got his bearings, on an exciting Dallas Mavericks team that’s generating plenty of buzz thanks to the addition of Kristaps Porzingis. If anyone can bring out the best in Luka’s playmaking with Dennis Smith Jr. gone, it’s the Unicorn.

If Doncic’s numbers take another leap, and if his .427/.327/.713 shooting splits do as well, the Mavs might just be competitive enough to open up a spot for Wonder Boy. He’s certainly popular and well-liked enough, so expectations are fairly high. Should he deliver, good luck convincing anyone to vote against him.

Why he won’t make it:

Hype has engulfed the Mavs thanks to Porzingis’ arrival, but how much better did they really get this summer? After jettisoning four of their five starters at the trade deadline last year, Doncic’s efficiency took a nosedive because he had to do everything himself. Dallas largely kept that same roster intact, so if a recovering KP and new arrival Delon Wright aren’t ready to ease his burden right off the bat, things could get dicey again.

If the Mavericks don’t win enough games, it may be enough to overshadow Doncic’s individual brilliance. If they do win enough games, there’s also a chance Porzingis has a great deal to do with that success and potentially steals votes/attention from the Slovenian wunderkind.