Overview of Group Chat
This episode of Group Chat (The Ringer) has hosts Justin, Rob Mahoney, and Kyle debating their 2025 NBA All‑Star ballots, focusing on the toughest selection decisions and the broader questions the current ballot format raises (positionless voting, international-team designations, how team performance should factor into individual honors). The conversation mixes roster picks, close head‑to‑head comparisons, breakout/undersung candidates, and thematic arguments about value (defense vs. offense, availability vs. peak performance).
Key takeaways
- Positionless voting simplifies some decisions (no forced slot limits) but shifts friction to “starter vs. reserve” choices and to fine margins between similarly productive players.
- Voters still wrestle with how to weight team success, games played/availability, and defensive impact versus raw offensive production.
- Several player fights emerged as the episode’s core debates: Brunson vs. Donovan Mitchell (East), Anthony Edwards vs. Stephen Curry (West), and Kevin Durant / Alperen Şengün vs. Devin Booker in the “Rockets/Suns” representation question.
- Defensive specialists (e.g., Chet Holmgren, Rudy Gobert) gained serious consideration because coaches/balloters and the hosts valued impact beyond scoring.
- The “international” All‑Star team wrinkle (self‑identification, dual national backgrounds) is expected to create awkward classification decisions this year.
Eastern Conference — consensus picks and contested names
Consensus (hosts agreed these would be starters)
- Cade Cunningham
- Jaylen Brown
- Tyrese Maxey (note: Maxey is logging historic minutes — ~39.3 mpg, a level not seen since the 2011–12 lockout season)
- Giannis Antetokounmpo
Most debated East decisions
- Jalen Brunson vs. Donovan Mitchell: close, data + team context split the hosts. Rob favored Mitchell for efficiency and on/off impact; Justin favored Brunson for results and clutch moments. Either is defensible as a starter.
- Reserve/bench group commonly named: Scottie Barnes, Jalen Duren, Michael Porter Jr., Jalen Johnson (emerging Hawks piece), Karl‑Anthony Towns, Norman Powell, Pascal Siakam — the final spots produced the mushy, last‑10% choices the hosts hated making.
- Breakout/“deserve attention” players mentioned: Josh Giddey (injury limited his case), Kevin Knox/“Con”‑type breakout talk (hosts referenced multiple young/bad‑team standouts), Lauri Markkanen, Evan Mobley, Joel Embiid (insights on form), and Keita Bates‑Diop style blowups.
Contextual points
- The hosts didn’t settle on a single East roster — they used the stage to surface borderline arguments and explain tiebreaker reasoning (efficiency, defensive metrics, team impact).
- Games‑played thresholds: some hosts were lenient for All‑Star (e.g., Franz Wagner with limited games), others argued for stricter availability standards.
Western Conference — consensus picks and contested names
Consensus starters
- Shai Gilgeous‑Alexander (SGA)
- Nikola Jokić
- Luka Dončić
- Victor Wembanyama
Fifth‑starter debate
- Anthony Edwards vs. Stephen Curry (and Jamal Murray as a late entrant): Edwards’ clutch scoring and high‑variance loud moments made a strong case; Curry’s systemic impact and gravity over defenses also made him irresistible. The hosts considered pace, per‑100 numbers and “influence on game shape” when splitting hairs.
Bench/other locks
- Jamal Murray (consensus bench pick; has carried the Nuggets through injuries with elite shooting)
- Kevin Durant, Alperen Şengün (Şengün is central to Houston’s identity), Chet Holmgren (defensive anchor and luxury efficiency), Deni Avdija were all strongly discussed
- Kawhi Leonard: hosts agreed he’s been elite when on the floor and deserving despite availability concerns
- LeBron James: discussed as a likely replacement/added American if teams need to rebalance rosters (and as a political/legacy selection if available)
Notable West debates
- Rockets having multiple reps (Durant + Şengün) vs. giving a Suns rep (Booker) — the hosts split on whether the Rockets “deserve” two spots.
- Chet Holmgren gained ground for DPOY/All‑Star inclusion because of elite rim protection and role efficiency despite lower usage.
Notable insights and mini‑themes
- Positionless voting: removes artificial constraints but amplifies borderline decisions; it pushes voters to define “best 12” vs. “best starting five.”
- Team record vs. individual merit: hosts argued both ways — strong individual output should be rewarded even on bad teams, but there’s a point where team failure weakens a player’s All‑Star claim.
- Defensive value: players like Chet and Rudy Gobert reminded the panel that defense still matters in All‑Star calculus, especially when a player’s defensive impact is elite.
- Breakout opportunities: the modern NBA (skill everywhere) allows players to resurface by moving into opportunity roles (examples cited: Michael Porter Jr., Josh Giddey, Deni Avdija).
- International roster taxonomy: ambiguous self‑identification (e.g., Donovan Mitchell’s “Panamanian” anecdote) complicates how the league will create the international All‑Star team — expect Adam Silver to arbitrate.
Notable quotes & moments
- On positionless ballots: “Now there’s no excuses — who are the 12 best players?” (argument for simplification but noting new headaches).
- On Tyrese Maxey’s minutes: “39.3 minutes — that hasn’t happened since the 2011–12 lockout season.”
- On the Brunson vs. Mitchell split: both are elite creators — the tiebreaker came down to context, efficiency and defensive impact.
Honorable mentions & snubs to watch
- Josh Giddey (injury limited; would’ve been a stronger case if healthy)
- Rudy Gobert (DPOY conversation; defensive anchor)
- Lauri Markkanen (prolific scoring despite not making main rosters)
- Evan Mobley, Joel Embiid (form fluctuations and availability affect final decisions)
- Players who get a marginal bump because of role change/opportunity: Michael Porter Jr., Jalen Duren, Keita Bates‑Diop‑type conversations
Final thoughts / What listeners should take away
- Expect close calls when the ballots are announced — most of the drama will be in the last few spots and in how the league handles the international roster construction.
- Watch three areas going forward: (1) availability/games played narratives, (2) late‑season role shifts that create breakout cases, and (3) how the NBA assigns players to the international team (self‑ID vs. birthplace/heritage).
- If you want to follow the hosts’ thinking: focus on efficiency and on‑court impact (not just raw volume) — that’s how they resolved most ties.
Credits: hosts Justin, Rob Mahoney, Kyle; producer and episode support mentioned in the show.