OKC’s ‘Big 3’ first in All-Star power

By Dionysis Aravantinos / info@eurohoops.net

The NBA season is around the corner. This upcoming Tuesday the training camp for the teams begins, with new faces, new coaches, new uniforms for the 2017-2018 NBA season. The trade that occurred yesterday and sent Carmelo Anthony to OKC, was one of the biggest trades, moves this summer. Kyrie Irving’s trade to Boston, to go along with Paul George’s trade to the Thunder, Chris Paul’s trade to Houston, Jimmy Butler’s to Minnesota earlier in the summer have been some of the most notable trades in the NBA this off-season, that may perhaps change the standing this new year.

With Anthony’s move to Oklahoma, the Thunder will now have the ‘Big 3’ with the most All-Star game appearances, over some other notable trios. In detail, Eurohoops brings you, four notable trios, their numbers from the past year and their All-Star game appearances.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Oklahoma City Thunder made some serious moves this off-season, as they managed to trade and acquire NBA All-Stars, Paul George from Indiana and Carmelo Anthony from New York. After Oklahoma’s divorce with Kevin Durant last summer, Russell Westbrook had to carry the load and lead this team, this year however with the two stars joining him, this team can actually go much deeper in the playoffs than it did in 2016-2017. Sam Presti, converted Victor Oladipo, Domantas Sabonis, Enes Kanter, Doug McDermott and a second-round pick into Paul George and Carmelo Anthony. The Thunder’s new ‘Big 3’ has 20 All-Star game appearances which are the most in the league.

Cleveland Cavaliers 

After Kyrie Irving’s trade this summer, the Cavaliers will have to adjust to playing without one of their most lethal scorers and clutch players. Isaiah Thomas, LeBron James and Kevin Love are the new ‘Big 3’ of the team with 19 All-Star appearances which is second in the NBA. The experience and the talent is there, and so LeBron James will try to get the best out of his newest teammate, Thomas and reach the finals for another straight year.

Golden State Warriors

The Golden State Warriors this summer remained relatively quiet as they did not acquire, or trade for an NBA star, another All-Star. The Warriors ‘Big 3’ of Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson remained the same and they have 15 All-Star game appearances in their resumé. The defending champs are quite possibly still the best team in the NBA, and as coach Kerr has stated, they want to be even better this year and improve the weaknesses of their game.

Boston Celtics

The Boston Celtics were really active this summer, as they signed Gordon Hayward and traded for Kyrie Irving. The two All-Stars will now join forces with Al Horford and the Celtics team, on their run to a championship, that would bring the glory days back to Boston. The young and new ‘Big 3’ have 9 All-Star game appearances, which ranks them fourth in our list, but with the talent and their youth have potential to make it to the All-Star games for many more years to come.