Most Likely to Make the All-Star Team as a Rookie: Derrick Rose

NBA FanHouse walks through the Valley of the Most Likely; we shall fear no topic.

Before getting injured this past week, Derrick Rose was making a name for himself this preseason (Case in point: his 30-point performance against the Mavs this past Tuesday). With his explosive game, he's quickly becoming a fan favorite around the league.

When you consider the lack of superstar point guards out East, and the fact that Rose is playing in a big market like Chicago, it's highly likely that he could get voted to the All-Star team as a rookie. I mean, with Jason Kidd heading west, his only competition for the starting nod would be with Chauncey Billups, Rajon Rondo, Jose Calderon, Andre Miller, Devin Harris, TJ Ford and Gilbert Arenas (no angry emails about Starbury).

Chauncey is probably the best of all of those players, but outside of Detroit, he's never been that "box office."

Gilbert is probably the most popular point guard out East, but who knows if he will be healthy enough to register on the radar of fans this season. Calderon is a baller, but he hasn't really caught on with the mainstream yet. This could be Rondo's break out year, but with the big three still around in Boston he might continue to be overshadowed. Devin Harris will be good, but he plays for a terrible team. Andre Miller is also very good, but has never really gotten respect from the fans. That opens the door for Rose to be the starter.

But then again, Rose might not even have to rely on the fans. With the lack of solid point men out East, he might still have a chance to be voted as an All-Star reserve by the coaches. However, this is pretty unlikely. Even when you play great as a rookie, coaches are hesitant to give you any credit. Since 1990, only four rookies -- Shaq in 1993, Grant Hill in 1995, Tim Duncan in 1998 and Yao Ming in 2003 -- have made it to the All-Star team. And Duncan was the only one of those guys that was voted in by the coaches. I mean, if the coaches didn't vote LeBron in as a rookie, I don't know if they'd ever vote Derrick Rose in.

Even so, don't be surprised if Derrick Rose somehow finds his way on the squad. If he did make it, it would be a great day for Chicago Bulls fans, as the Bulls haven't had an All-Star representative since Michael Jordan made the squad in 1998. Yikes!