The NBA changed its All-Star voting rules earlier this season in the hopes of averting an
electoral embarrassment. Based on the 10 starters announced Thursday night on TNT,
the system worked.
With LeBron James and James Harden leading the way, the league has its most deserving
collection of All-Star starters in years. The Western Conference will be represented by
Harden, Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors forward Kevin
Durant, San Antonio Spurs forward Kawhi Leonard, and New Orleans Pelicans big man
Anthony Davis.
The Eastern Conference will be represented by James, his Cleveland Cavaliers teammate
Kyrie Irving, Toronto Raptors guard DeMar DeRozan, Milwaukee Bucks sensation Giannis
Antetokounmpo, and Chicago Bulls wing Jimmy Butler. Antetokounmpo, Butler and DeRozan
are the game's only first-time starters.
The league's new rules stipulate that fan voting constitutes just half of the All-Star
results instead of the full tally. Each NBA player was allowed one vote this year to
make up 25 percent of the results, and a panel of media members decided on the other
25 percent.
Under the old rules, Chicago Bulls guard Dwyane Wade and Philadelphia 76ers center
Joel Embiid would have replaced DeRozan and Butler in the East. (Cleveland's
Kevin Love finished ahead of Butler in fan voting for the East's frontcourt, as well.)
In the West, only Davis would not have made the starting squad.
Starters were decided upon via a weighted average of each players' finish under each
voting faction, with the fan vote breaking any ties. That rule had to be used in
two cases — DeRozan made it in ahead of Boston Celtics guard Isaiah Thomas, and
Curry beat out Oklahoma City Thunder superstar Russell Westbrook.
These results are certainly not perfect, although it's not entirely fair to blame
the changes in voting. Leading MVP candidate Westbrook stands out as a particularly
egregious snub, but he finished third in fan voting and would not have made it under
the old voting system, either. Nevertheless, Westbrook's incredible stats have him
in line to become the first player since Oscar Robertson to average a triple-double
over a full season.
The good news is that Westbrook, a two-time All-Star Game MVP, is a lock to make
the team as a reserve, which will still give him plenty of opportunities to glare at
his ex-teammate Durant.