The CSL

A couple quick notes:
- This doesn’t reflect my valuation of the players. It’s the ASG and I largely went based off stats.
- This is for fun! I welcome critiques (that’s part of the fun), but keep in mind that everyone’s ranking will look different, so please don’t take any of these personally or too seriously.


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Starters
G: Luka Doncic (NYK) – Not much needs to be said here. Dude is a monster, and other than his middling efficiency, he’s having another MVP caliber season
G: Troy Brown (MIL) – Heart and Soul of the Bucks team, and a true 2-way force. Averages 21/7/5 with a whopping 3.2 TOFC and 0.86 PA/SF
F: Nikola Jovic (CHA) – Averages 23/9/8 on 61% TS while also playing defense. Absolute stud
F: Victor Wembanyama (ORL) – Orlando may be struggling in the standings, but don’t blame Wemby. 27/12 with 2.8 blocks
F: Naji Marshall (ATL) – Leads the East in scoring with 29 pts on 61% TS. The premier scoring wing in the CSL

Bench
G: Josh Giddey (ORL) – A do-it-all guard averaging 13/12/8 and also having a good defensive season statistically with 2.0 TOFC and 0.88 PA/SF
G: Anfernee Simons (PHI) – Currently injured, so he could drop, but averaging 19/8 with 2.8 TOFC and 0.92 PA/SF
F: DeAndre Ayton (BKN) – Feels wrong to not have him as a starter, but he’s experiencing a major drop in production from his usual. Still, I couldn’t drop him any lower
F: Michael Porter Jr. (CLE) – Take your pick with the East’s loaded front-court. MPJ could easily be a starter with a 23/9 season and very solid defensive metrics
F: Rui Hachimura (CHA) – Defensive behemoth averaging a whopping 2.6 STL, 2.3 BLK, 3.5 TOFC and 0.86 PA/SF. Also contributes some offense (14 pts) and on the glass (8 rebs)

Wildcard
G: Donovan Mitchell (MIA) – Carries the burden for Miami offensively averaging 25 pts and only 0.8 TOVs. Also playing solid defense. Efficiency (50% TS) is the only thing holding him back
F: Viny Okouo (PHI) – Grabs the last spot as a 2-way force in the post, averaging 20/8 on a solid 56% TS. Also averages 2.3 BLK and 0.87 PA/SF

JUST Missed (still time to climb the rankings)
G: RJ Barrett (CHI) – Elite scoring wing that’s averaging 20 pts on 61% TS
F: Xavier Tillman (WAS) – Averaging 17/10 with 2.6 BLK and 0.86 PA/SF
G: Romeo Langford (CLE) – Averaging 22/8/5 with solid defense. Efficiency (50% TS) his only weakness
F: Jarrett Allen (MIA) – A positive force in a number of areas. Averaging 16/8 on 58% TS to go along with 2.0 BLK and an incredible 0.78 PA/SF

Missed due to injuries
F: Bruno Fernando (CHI) – Missed a big chunk of time and hasn’t played enough IMHO, but that could change by the time votes are in
F: Kavion Pippen (DET) – Only a super sophomore, but was definitely going to be on the list before going down with a lengthy injury that will cause him to miss the ASG
F: Daniel Gafford (MIL) – Was going to be in the running for one of the final spots before suffering an injury that will also cause him to miss the ASG

Poor Bruno, such a waste

I love the Bagley and Porter picks

Thanks for the love I appreciate it!

Not sure on Giddey as a reserve as SGA and Simons are playing well and have a leg up on him due to our once again miserable record.

But thank you though hope to see Wemby start as I feel he deserves it tho

Andrewu91 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 6:38 pm I love the Bagley and Porter picks

They earned it

WillyJakkz wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 6:46 pm Not sure on Giddey as a reserve as SGA and Simons are playing well and have a leg up on him due to our once again miserable record.

Simons is right there with Giddey. On talent, SGA deserves it for sure. But Brooklyn has been a dumpster fire this year, and his numbers have been greatly affected. He's still on my short list though.

I feel like Romeo has been more of the driving force this season. He's been leading scorer more and we lost more games with him out than Porter so not sure if that's because Simmons is just a stud and we're weak at pg behind him.

I love these thanks for the article. They're so hard to do. I tend to lean towards winning and stats a lot more.

Hard to argue with this list. Will be interesting to see if Rui gets the votes or not. Does feel a bit weird having 2 Magic and 2 Hornets given their records, but Charlotte is playing a lot better after their slow start.

cb4raptorscb4 wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 8:02 pm Hard to argue with this list. Will be interesting to see if Rui gets the votes or not. Does feel a bit weird having 2 Magic and 2 Hornets given their records, but Charlotte is playing a lot better after their slow start.

easy to argue this list. if you're just going to vote based on raw stats might as well not even have a vote and just add up raw stats. ALEN SMAILAGIC got snubbed from this list. I wouldve much rather seen greenbears personal all-star team.

Silogical wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 8:08 pm easy to argue this list. if you're just going to vote based on raw stats might as well not even have a vote and just add up raw stats. ALEN SMAILAGIC got snubbed from this list. I wouldve much rather seen greenbears personal all-star team.

It's going to be okay. This is an ASG. To me (key word being "me"), stats are a key component. My personal valuation list would be different and I said as much.

That said, If you think I just listed the guys that accrued the highest box scores, then you'd be wrong.

GreenBear wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 8:23 pm

It's going to be okay. This is an ASG. To me (key word being "me"), stats are a key component. My personal valuation list would be different and I said as much.

That said, If you think I just listed the guys that accrued the highest box scores, then you'd be wrong.

a rui threw in a smalegic thrown out. I still wouldve rather seen your all-star team even if its similar.

more good players = less stats to go around so i personally think stats are one of many key components, but its voting so anyone can vote how they want. Any list is interesting.

Silogical wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 8:47 pm

GreenBear wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 8:23 pm

It's going to be okay. This is an ASG. To me (key word being "me"), stats are a key component. My personal valuation list would be different and I said as much.

That said, If you think I just listed the guys that accrued the highest box scores, then you'd be wrong.

a rui threw in a smalegic thrown out. I still wouldve rather seen your all-star team even if its similar.

more good players = less stats to go around so i personally think stats are one of many key components, but its voting so anyone can vote how they want. Any list is interesting.

For you, I'll put together another list based purely on the value I think they brought so far this season, and not the stats they put up. Only because I like you

That said, I expect it's going to be more controversial... which is maybe what you want...

GreenBear wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 8:58 pm

For you, I'll put together another list based purely on the value I think they brought so far this season, and not the stats they put up. Only because I like you

no take backs on that

value they bring to the team/win share

Silogical wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 9:00 pm

GreenBear wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 8:58 pm

For you, I'll put together another list based purely on the value I think they brought so far this season, and not the stats they put up. Only because I like you

no take backs on that

value they bring to the team/win share

I would never think of taking it back!

Okay, so we're talking total value added? So games missed will hurt?

The defensive metrics in this game is very weird, especially for guards/wings. I really don't know how to gauge how well a player is defending in this engine. Like I've seen guys with low DEF + low stl/blk ratings have better points allowed per shots metrics in a season sample than someone with good DEF + stl/blk ratings.

GreenBear wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 9:05 pm

Silogical wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 9:00 pm

GreenBear wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 8:58 pm

For you, I'll put together another list based purely on the value I think they brought so far this season, and not the stats they put up. Only because I like you

no take backs on that

value they bring to the team/win share

I would never think of taking it back!

Okay, so we're talking total value added? So games missed will hurt?

no games missed shouldnt hurt, if theyre eligible to play they shouldnt be punished for a few missed games. they are indirectly punished for missed games because the team would have a worse record, and record should be an important aspect.

Feels like the East is getting weaker. Nice list though.

rh0xxy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 9:11 pm Feels like the East is getting weaker. Nice list though.

Yeah, definitely weaker, but I do think if CHA, IND, and BKN all had GMs then they would've been much stronger.

hardenwithnod wrote: ↑Thu Jan 15, 2026 9:06 pm The defensive metrics in this game is very weird, especially for guards/wings. I really don't know how to gauge how well a player is defending in this engine. Like I've seen guys with low DEF + low stl/blk ratings have better points allowed per shots metrics in a season sample than someone with good DEF + stl/blk ratings.

It’s not a perfect stat, and it can vary from season to season, but it does provide some context. Just not the whole picture.

There are some observable trends. A player that gets more blocks will tend to have a lower PA/SF because a blocked shot = 0 points. The STL rating impacts TOFC, but doesn’t have an impact on PA/SF to my knowledge. My understanding of the DEF rating is that it acts as an amplifier for the other defensive ratings.

I don’t pretend to know everything that affects that stat, but there are other variables. For example, the position a player spends his time at defensively matters. It’s easier for a player to get more blocks in the front-court than on the wings or the back-court. When I put GG at SF, he gets fewer blocks than at PF. My theory is that blocks are more likely to happen in the paint and/or during a post-up, but it’s just a guess. Also, guards also have higher PA/SF because they face a lot more 3s than most Bigs. A majority of the league’s most efficient players are ones that excel from 3, and I imagine that does a lot of damage to their opponents’ PA/SF.

I also think what type of defense you run can affect it. A more aggressive defense may generate more steals and blocks and thus probably helps lower players’ PA/SF. Conversely, it also leads to more fouls.

Just a few of my thoughts on it. It’s not a useless stat, but it’s important to keep in mind that like all stats, it only tells a part of the picture. And stats can vary wildly from season to season in DDS, as we’re all aware.

That makes sense, thanks for the explanation.