The NBA’s new All-Star format will re-shuffle the Eastern and Western Conference players once the 24 All-Stars are selected, but up until that point, the voting process remains essentially unchanged. That means that, as usual, fan voting will help determine the 10 players – five from each conference – dubbed starters for next month’s game. Voting concluded last night, and this year’s All-Star starters will be announced later in the week.
As of the last update on voting results, there were no huge surprises in either conference. In the East, Kyrie Irving and DeMar DeRozan were the top backcourt vote-getters, while LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid led the way in the frontcourt. Out West, teammates Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant, and Draymond Green were all among the top vote-getters, with James Harden and Anthony Davis joining them.
Those 10 players would be worthy starters, but they’re hardly the only candidates for the job. In an ESPN Insider piece published several days ago, ESPN’s Kevin Pelton makes the case for Al Horford and DeMarcus Cousins to join the starting ranks for the All-Star Game. Last week, Eddie Sefko of The Dallas Morning News argued on behalf of Kristaps Porzingis in the East, and left out some big names in the West in favor of Russell Westbrook, LaMarcus Aldridge, and Karl-Anthony Towns.
There are other players – including Jimmy Butler and Victor Oladipo – with legitimate cases for starting roles, but we’re limited to 10, five in each in conference. With that being said, which five Eastern and five Western players do you think should be selected as All-Star starters for 2017/18?
Jump into the comment section below to share your thoughts!
One man DEVIN BOOKER
Since captains choose the team, how does pre selected starters work?
I don’t think the NBA has clarified how exactly it’ll work. I’m not sure if the 10 guys voted as starters will have to be split up evenly (five per team) when the captains make their picks, or if those 10 guys will be “starters” in name only (ie. seven could eventually end up on the same team).
For the purposes of this discussion, we’re just looking at the usual five per conference (two backcourt, three frontcourt).
The way I read it when it was first announced is they announce the 10 starters and name captains (top vote getters) and then do a draft for starters. Then coaches pick the 14 reserves and the captains draft to fill out their teams.
I think the rumored process (although who knows what will happen since it won’t be televised) is that the two captains will be forced to select from the pool of starters first before the rest of the available pool. Doing so would ensure each team has some combination of the top 10 guys voted to be starters.
Thanks for the replies.
The only change I’d make for the last voting update is to put Cousins in for Draymond
I wonder if there’s a chance for kawhi to become a starter and bump Draymond.
Fan vote only counts 50%. If coaches and players overwhelmingly agree with you, it has a good chance of happening. However, many teams would love to have Draymond on their team. He is an amazing defensive player, and a leader on the floor. He’s passionate, outspoken, and loses his temper sometimes, but is incredibly intelligent at the same time and puts in a lot of work. I think he’s the type of player you love to hate on other teams, but you value and defend if he is on your team.
Besides, Kawhi is a great basketball player, but what has he done this year to earn an All Star spot?