The players contending for their first All-Star berths

Chris Paul (left) is poised to add an All-Star berth to a résumé that already includes a Rookie of the Year award. AP

RELATED • THOMSEN: My picks for the All-Star Game

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When it comes to NBA players, being selected for the All-Star Game might be the next best thing to winning a championship.

"When I got to the NBA, I set a goal to be an All-Star," Wizards forward Caron Butler said at last year's event.

"It's been a dream of mine since I was a kid," Mavs forward Josh Howard added.

Butler and Howard were two of seven first-timers in last year's All-Star Game. The others were Carmelo Anthony, Carlos Boozer (who missed the game with an injury), Dwight Howard, Joe Johnson and Mehmet Okur.

This year features another bumper crop of worthy first-year candidates, but it doesn't look as if there will be as many spots. The Western Conference backcourt situation appears particularly daunting for first-timers. Kobe Bryant, Tracy McGrady, Steve Nash, Allen Iverson, Tony Parker, Baron Davis and Manu Ginobili are all established All-Stars vying for spots, leaving little room for newcomers.

Coaches vote for the reserves. They must include a center, two forwards and two guards on their ballot. They also get to include two at-large spots. With Bryant and McGrady currently leading the fan balloting, it means coaches will have at most four guard spots in which to place any of those above-mentioned veterans as well as the impressive list of potential newcomers.

Here is our list of the top candidates for first-time honors, listed in order of their likelihood of making it. Keep in mind, this is just a status report of how it stands right now. The picture could change over the next few weeks before coaches have to fill out their ballots. (All stats and records through Tuesday.)

Chris Paul, Hornets

Key stats: 21.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 10.3 apg, 2.97 spg, 47.7 FG%, 36.6 3FG%

The skinny: The 6-foot point guard has been sensational this season. He leads the NBA in steals, ranks third in assists and is in the top 20 in scoring. Most important, he has led the Hornets to the fourth-best record in the West. He has to be on the squad, even if it means putting him ahead of Parker, Davis and/or Roy.

All-Star outlook: Get ready for some big cheers from the hometown New Orleans crowd during intros.

Brandon Roy, Trail Blazers

Key stats: 19.0 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 5.6 apg., 45.1 FG%, 31.4 3FG%

The skinny: Roy has seen a surge in his candidacy of late, thanks to the Blazers' recent 13-game winning streak. With his all-around contributions, he is worthy of making the squad. But will coaches go with a second-year player over established vets like Davis or Parker or Ginobili? The guess here is they will.

All-Star outlook: Good, especially if Blazermania keeps raging.

Richard Jefferson, Nets

Key stats: 24.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 2.7 apg, 46.1 FG%, 30.6 3FG%

The skinny: The seventh-year small forward is making his strongest bid yet. He ranks sixth in the NBA in scoring (up 8.2 points from last season's 16.3 average) , while playing his usual solid defense. But the East frontcourt situation is crowded (Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Paul Pierce, Caron Butler, Antawn Jamison, et al.), and the Nets will likely be represented already by Jason Kidd.

All-Star outlook: He has an outside shot, but the Nets are going to have to start playing a lot better.

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