Who are the candidates to be first-time All-Stars this season? We looked at the Eastern and Western talent shifts, the close calls from recent years, the trajectories¹ of the league's young stars, and the teams most likely to rise (or at least to provide a platform for attention-grabbing talent and production). We came up with five potential first-time All-Stars.

谁会成为本赛季全明星的新面孔呢？根据东西部的球员天赋，近几年来比较准确的预测，联盟新星的成长轨迹以及最有可能让人耳目一新的球队（或是其他至少能够为这些引人注目的天赋提供一个展示的平台），我们发现了五个最有潜质的新面孔。

No.1 Devin Booker

1.德文·布克

Booker's season might begin late due to surgery on the pinky of his shooting hand, and the Suns will likely be awful again.

布克的新赛季亮相可能会因为投篮手的小指伤势而推迟，太阳队也很有可能因此颇受影响。

But Booker's talent and production is undeniable. He was a dark-horse injury replacement² All-Star (even in the West) last season. If the Suns are less embarrassing and Booker's numbers continue to improve, he will deserve serious consideration from coaches to make the reserve squad³.

但是布克的才华和能力是毋庸置疑的。他就是一起黑马杀入了上赛季全明星（即便是在西部）的候补名单。如果太阳的处境不这么尴尬且布克的支持者会不断地增加，他值得教练们的慎重考虑入选全明星。

No.2 Ben Simmons

本-西蒙斯

Simmons has a much easier fight ahead in the East, and almost made the All-Star team as an injury replacement as a rookie. (Goran Dragic got the spot instead.) The 76ers are good enough to command two All-Star nods in the East, and Simmons is one of the most important players in the conference. In fact, we should just pencil Simmons in for the All-Star Game.

西蒙斯在东部的竞争似乎更加轻松，他几乎作为一个新秀入选全明星替补阵容（戈兰·德拉季奇最终代替了他）。76人队非常有实力在东部来获取两个全明星的席位，西蒙斯则是其中一个最重要的球员。事实上，我们可以预见西蒙斯入选全明星的画面。

This list is full of potential first-time All-Stars, but Simmons feels almost certain given his excellence⁴, the Sixers' prominence⁵, and the East's dearth⁶ of stars.

名单上都是些潜在的全明星新面孔，但是西蒙斯似乎已是板上钉钉，鉴于他的优秀、76人的实力以及东部明星的缺乏。

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No.3 Nikola Jokic

3.尼古拉·约基奇

Like Booker, Jokic is facing an ultra-tight West field, though the frontcourt is a little easier.

像布克一样，约基奇所处的西部竞争尤为激烈，尽管前场位置的竞争会稍微轻松些。

Jokic has two things working for him: he's a true center, of which there are few to call on for All-Star duty, and he should be the best player on what should be a good Nuggets team. Jokic has gained a lot of respect around the league, and goes into this season with some momentum⁷ after Denver's playoff near-miss last year.

约基奇手握两项优势：首先他是一个真正的内线核心，联盟目前这样的全明星级别中锋少之又少；其次，他是目前这支优秀的掘金队中最好的一位球员。约基奇在联盟备受瞩目，在经历了去年距离季后赛仅差一步之遥的遗憾又后满怀动力踏入新赛季。

No.4 Khris Middleton

4.克里斯·米德尔顿

Middleton is a really strong two-way player who puts up surprisingly good scoring numbers. If the Bucks⁸ get really good next year under new coach Mike Budenholzer, Middleton is the obvious choice for Milwaukee's second All-Star with Giannis Antetokounmpo.

米德尔顿是一位能力强大的双线球员，他的得分数据尤为震撼。如果雄鹿在新教练迈克·布登霍尔泽的带领下能更上一层楼，米德尔顿无疑会成为继字母哥之后密尔沃基第二个全明星球员。

No.5 Aaron Gordon

5.阿隆·戈登

That said, the Magic have a(nother) new coach in Steve Clifford, who did shepherd Kemba Walker to All-Star (and near All-NBA) status in Charlotte. Gordon has a new contract and could even have moved on to a new team by the time the actual All-Star Game comes around. If ever there were a time for Aaron Gordon to become an All-Star, that time is now.

这也就是说，史蒂夫-克里福德成为了魔术的新主帅，夏洛特黄蜂的肯巴沃克曾在他的指导下入选全明星（差点进入最佳阵容）。戈登签下了新的合同，他甚至可以选择在全明星到来之际加盟一个新的队伍。如果说戈登什么时候能够成为一名全明星球员，那就是现在。