With the new year, the NBA has treated us fans to the first sneak peek of three at the 2019 NBA All-Star fan voting results with the first returns and oh boy has it sparked discussion, controversy and
bewilderment!
Eastern Conference
Back Court
1. Kyrie Irving, BOS - 910,329 votes
2. Dwyane Wade, MIA - 409,156 votes
3. Kemba Walker, CHA - 319,519 votes
4. Ben Simmons, PHI - 259,993 votes
5. Victor Oladipo, IND - 198,009 votes
bewilderment!
Eastern Conference
Back Court
1. Kyrie Irving, BOS - 910,329 votes
2. Dwyane Wade, MIA - 409,156 votes
3. Kemba Walker, CHA - 319,519 votes
4. Ben Simmons, PHI - 259,993 votes
5. Victor Oladipo, IND - 198,009 votes
6. Kyle Lowry, TOR - 180,571 votes
7. Zach LaVine, CHI - 128,605 votes
8. Jeremy Lin, ATL - 62,573 votes
9. Bradley Beal, WAS - 61,269 votes
7. Zach LaVine, CHI - 128,605 votes
8. Jeremy Lin, ATL - 62,573 votes
9. Bradley Beal, WAS - 61,269 votes
10. John Wall, WAS - 54,366 votes
Front Court
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL - 991,561 votes
2. Kawhi Leonard, TOR - 774,172 votes
3. Joel Embiid, PHI - 648,002 votes
Front Court
1. Giannis Antetokounmpo, MIL - 991,561 votes
2. Kawhi Leonard, TOR - 774,172 votes
3. Joel Embiid, PHI - 648,002 votes
4. Jimmy Butler, PHI - 222,206 votes
5. Jayson Tatum, BOS - 214,622 votes
6. Blake Griffin, DET - 192,694 votes
7. Vince Carter, ATL - 76,022 votes
8. Andre Drummond, DET - 68,204 votes
9. Gordon Hayward, BOS - 66,492 votes
10. Al Horford, BOS - 62,288 votes
Western Conference
5. Jayson Tatum, BOS - 214,622 votes
6. Blake Griffin, DET - 192,694 votes
7. Vince Carter, ATL - 76,022 votes
8. Andre Drummond, DET - 68,204 votes
9. Gordon Hayward, BOS - 66,492 votes
10. Al Horford, BOS - 62,288 votes
Western Conference
Back Court
1. Stephen Curry, GSW - 793,111 votes
2. Derrick Rose, MIN - 698,086 votes
1. Stephen Curry, GSW - 793,111 votes
2. Derrick Rose, MIN - 698,086 votes
3. James Harden, HOU - 541,606 votes
4. Russell Westbrook, OKC - 459,792 votes
5. Klay Thompson, GSW - 247,618 votes
5. Klay Thompson, GSW - 247,618 votes
6. Damian Lillard, POR - 200,609 votes
7. DeMar DeRozan, SAS - 197,524 votes
8. Lonzo Ball, LAL - 175,040 votes
9. Devin Booker, PHX - 111,897 votes
10. Chris Paul, HOU - 101,104 votes
Front Court
1. LeBron James, LAL - 1,083,363 votes
2. Luka Doncic, DAL - 679,839 votes
3. Kevin Durant, GSW - 659,968 votes
4. Anthony Davis, NOP - 605,417 votes
5. Paul George, OKC - 580,055 votes
6. Steven Adams, OKC - 261,327 votes
7. Nikola Jokic, DEN - 235,272 votes
10. Chris Paul, HOU - 101,104 votes
Front Court
1. LeBron James, LAL - 1,083,363 votes
2. Luka Doncic, DAL - 679,839 votes
3. Kevin Durant, GSW - 659,968 votes
4. Anthony Davis, NOP - 605,417 votes
5. Paul George, OKC - 580,055 votes
6. Steven Adams, OKC - 261,327 votes
7. Nikola Jokic, DEN - 235,272 votes
8. Kyle Kuzma, LAL - 195,477 votes
9. Draymond Green, GSW - 138,017 votes
10. DeMarcus Cousins, GSW - 92,977 votes
10. DeMarcus Cousins, GSW - 92,977 votes
Like many others, I was honestly stunned to see Luka's name above the likes of Durant, Davis, George and Jokic who are all contending for this years MVP award. But after thinking through it and assessing my own reason to vote for Luka, we shouldn't be surprised about underdog candidates receiving so many votes.
Many fans assume that superstar players such as Anthony Davis, Russell Westbrook, Blake Griffin and more are locks to make the All-Star game so instead of placing their votes towards who they believe is the best, they instead vote for those who may need that extra support to be a wildcard pick. This is why we see surprising tallies from fringe all-star calibre players like Luka Doncic, Derrick Rose and Steven Adams. While I myself could have voted for Paul George who is in the midst of his most dominant season yet, I decided to spend a few votes on the Mavericks young sensation in Luka Doncic as he is one player that I wouldn't mind seeing fill in a bench spot on the all-star roster. Little did I know that hundreds of thousands of other fans had the same thought process that I did.
Then, of course, we have the popularity votes. Vince Carter and Dwyane Wade have received plenty of love in honour of their hall-of-fame careers despite them clearly not being all-star calibre no more. Steven Admas, Jeremy Lin and Luka Doncic have also spiked in voting thanks to their home countries.
All-Star game appearances have always been a point of interest between fans discussing the legacies of NBA players. Many use the argument that "player A made more all-star games than player B" in an attempt to prove their player was better. But over the past few years, we've seen "all-star" calibre players who get snubbed from the game year-after-year and questionable choices be given the privilege of participating in the all-star festivities. To combat this, the NBA has decreased the value of the fan vote and given more weight to the vote of those around the league. But still, we see players like Kyle Korver and Goran Dragic be "all-stars" while Jason Terry and Mike Conley are not and for the latter may never be. Either the fan vote will need to be removed completely or we need to stop using all-star game appearances as a measure of talent and success as a basketball player.
Then, of course, we have the popularity votes. Vince Carter and Dwyane Wade have received plenty of love in honour of their hall-of-fame careers despite them clearly not being all-star calibre no more. Steven Admas, Jeremy Lin and Luka Doncic have also spiked in voting thanks to their home countries.
All-Star game appearances have always been a point of interest between fans discussing the legacies of NBA players. Many use the argument that "player A made more all-star games than player B" in an attempt to prove their player was better. But over the past few years, we've seen "all-star" calibre players who get snubbed from the game year-after-year and questionable choices be given the privilege of participating in the all-star festivities. To combat this, the NBA has decreased the value of the fan vote and given more weight to the vote of those around the league. But still, we see players like Kyle Korver and Goran Dragic be "all-stars" while Jason Terry and Mike Conley are not and for the latter may never be. Either the fan vote will need to be removed completely or we need to stop using all-star game appearances as a measure of talent and success as a basketball player.
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