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Over the last two years, the NBA has seen massive player movements. Franchise players, who are on the hunt for that elusive championship ring, were not spared. As such, only eight of 24 players from the 2017 All-Star Game are still with their original teams. The rest have moved out.
This was observed by Steve Ilardi. From the 2017 All-Star teams, only Giannis Anteotokounmpo, John Wall, Kyle Lowry, Kevin Love, Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Draymond Green, and James Harden are with their original squad.
Not counting Kevin Love, who was an injury replacement guy. (If we count him then it’s 8 of 25.)
— Steve Ilardi (@dr_ilardi) July 12, 2019
Consider all the All-Star dominoes which have tumbled in recent years:
DeMar DeRozan was traded to the San Antonio Spurs for Kawhi Leonard. Leonard would win a title with the Toronto Raptors before moving to the LA Clippers with Paul George — who played two seasons for the Oklahoma City Thunder.
All-Star Jimmy Butler, meanwhile, was traded to the Minnesota Timberwolves, then the Philadelphia 76ers. Recently, he inked a four-year deal with the Miami Heat. Isaiah Thomas jumped to the Cleveland Cavaliers, then the Los Angeles Lakers, then the Denver Nuggets. Recently, he signed with the Washington Wizards for one year.
Carmelo Anthony, too, jumped from team to team. The collector of many All-Star Game appearances joined the Oklahoma City Thunder then the Houston Rockets — who traded him to the Chicago Bulls. The Bulls waived him after the deal was completed.
Kemba Walker is now with the Boston Celtics, Paul Millsap is entering his third season with the Denver Nuggets, while Anthony Davis and DeMarcus Cousins are now with LeBron James donning the Purple and Gold.
Russell Westbrook was recently traded to the Rockets, Marc Gasol is entering his first full season with the Toronto Raptors, DeAndre Jordan with the Nets, and Gordon Hayward is entering his third year with the Celtics.
