NBA All-Star Game Sparks Controversy
The All-Star Game is the highlight of the mid-NBA season. Every year, fans are allowed to vote for up to five players once a day and are given around a month to cast their votes. As always, with every privilege there is a downsiåde.
Fans have often tried to “farm” votes in order for their favorite players to get selected into the All-Star game.
A past example is the case of Zaza Pachulia in 2016. Pachulia, after the first of three returns of the ballots, was the second leading player for the Western Conference frontcourt, trailing only Kevin Durant.
As a mediocre player, Pachulia gained popularity amongst the fans.
The NBA however, decided that players such as Pachulia weren’t All-Star caliber players, and implemented a rule that reduced the fan voting to 50 percent on all votes.
The other half of the votes were given to players and the media.
This year, Luka Dončić, a rookie straight out of EuroLeague, is averaging 20.8 points per game, 7.1 rebounds per game, and 5.5 assists per game. With All-Star numbers, many fans voted Dončić to participate in the All-Star Game.
With the new rules implemented, however, Dončić was not selected as a member of the All-Star Game. Fans viewed Dončić as being snubbed from the game.
The decision of the league brings an important question.
Why is there a voting system when the fan voting can easily be overridden by the media?
The answer may be that the NBA still wants the fans to have a chance in playing a role in the process of selecting All-Stars.
This year’s NBA All-Star Game was located in Charlotte.
On February 7, team captains LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo selected their rosters.
Team LeBron was headlined by LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, and Anthony Davis. Team Antetokounmpo was led by Giannis Antetokounmpo, Stephen Curry,
Joel Embiid, Paul George, Kemba Walker, and Nikola Jokić.Whatever the future of the NBA All-Star voting will become, the All-Star game will always be an entertaining headline of the NBA season.
Curtis Liu has been a staff member of The Point since his sophomore year, and the editor of the paper's very own website (which you are currently on)....