Although the Washington Wizards have two All-Stars on their roster, they haven’t been selected in the same season.
For the past six seasons, the Washington Wizards have had one of their own compete in the NBA All-Star Game. Either John Wall or Bradley Beal have punched their tickets to the league’s exhibition of its top talent, but never have done so at the same time.
Wall was the team’s lone representative from the 2014 game to 2017. And even though Wall was named an All-Star last season before having to back out due to injury, Beal got the nod in his place and earned it again this season.
The last time the team had two players compete in the same game was in 2008 when Caron Butler and Antawn Jamison played together. The year before that, Jamison and Gilbert Arenas suited up together.
With Wall out all of next season, and assuming Beal continues to perform at his now expected high level, it raises the questions of how much longer will it be until the Wizards have a second All-Star. Will it just be Beal again in 2020 in Chicago?
Coincidentally, the most likely candidate to join him would actually feel quite comfortable back in the Windy City. That is, if he’s still on the team next season. Recent trade acquisition Bobby Portis is probably the most likely Wizards’ All-Star on the roster right now. It may seem outlandish, but it’s not out of the question.
In four games with Washington, Portis is averaging 19 points and 7.3 rebounds per game. That’s a strong start for someone still finding his place on the team, but it could also be the norm as the team is in need of another productive player for next season with Wall out. Point being, there’s reason to believe he could continue to post similar numbers, if not better, into next year.
Plus, the Eastern Conference doesn’t necessarily have the depth on All-Stars that the Western Conference has, and the need to fill out a roster could work in Portis’s favor. For example, forwards who made the team this season, like the Milwaukee Bucks‘ Khris Middleton and Orlando Magic‘s Nikola Vucevic, are perennial All-Star type of players.
Again, this isn’t to say that it will happen, but just that Portis is the most likely candidate to be. Portis clearly has the talent and Washington may give him the opportunity, should he re-sign, to be the team’s second All-Star in over a decade.