LaMelo Ball an All-Star Game starter? Fans say yes with latest voting totals

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NBA fans want to see LaMelo Ball. And Stephen Curry, but we already know that part.

The second round of NBA All-Star Game fan voting has been released, and Nikola Jokic and Giannis Antetokounmpo remain the two top vote-getters. Based on the voting, the starters would be:

Eastern Conference

LaMelo Ball (Hornets)
Donovan Mitchell (Cavaliers)
Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks)
Jayson Tatum (Celtics)
Karl-Anthony Towns (Knicks)

Western Conference

Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (Thunder)
Stephen Curry (Warriors)
Nikola Jokic (Nuggets)
Kevin Durant (Suns)
LeBron James (Lakers)

Giannis Antetokounmpo and Nikola Jokić continue to lead their respective conferences in the second fan returns of #NBAAllStar Voting presented by AT&T.

Fans account for 50% of the vote to decide All-Star starters. Players and a media panel account for 25% each.

Next fan update:… pic.twitter.com/oQvm99AmE5

— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 9, 2025

The only change in the starting five from the first week of voting was Stephen Curry jumping over Luka Doncic for the second starting guard spot in the West. Remember, these votes go towards the starters, the reserves for the All-Star Game are chosen by a vote of the coaches.

Here are a few thoughts on these results:

• LaMelo Ball as a starter? That fan vote likely doesn’t hold up once the player and media votes are added (more on that below). To be fair, Ball has been relatively healthy this season and is averaging 29.9 points and 7.3 assists a game. And his brother released a new song, no other player can say that. However, let’s be honest, Ball is a social media sensation — his highlights dazzle — but he is an inefficient volume scorer on a bad team where someone has to get points, so why not him?

The All-Star Game is an exhibition not a competition — a concept Adam Silver and others struggle with, apparently — and if the fans want LaMelo, they may get him. But when we talk about a player’s legacy, part of that is “he was an X time All-Star,” and to rob someone more deserving isn’t right. We’ll see if Ball gets enough backing from the media/players to make it in.

• Note: Fan votes — which can be cast through…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/lamelo-ball-star-game-starter-202110093.html

Author : NBC Sports

Publish date : 2025-01-09 20:21:00

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