The NBA announced on Monday that players and media will join the voting process for selecting NBA All-Star Game starters. Players and media will each receive 25 percent of the vote, and the fan vote will be diluted to 50 percent.
Fans have chosen the NBA All-Star Game starters since the 1974-75 season.
While fans can submit one ballot per day, each player can send in just one ballot total. Players can vote for themselves, so we know Nick Young will get at least one vote.
According to USA Today, about 75 media members will vote. So think about this like an NBA All-Star Game electoral college. A population of 75 people will get 25 percent of the vote, and even though there are about five times as many players, they will receive the same weight. Meanwhile, millions of fans will account for the same weight as those two groups combined.
ESPN sources say the NBA is making All-Star balloting changes to give players (and media) a say in voting for starters alongside the fans.
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 19, 2016
Sources say the fan vote will count for 50 percent for NBA All-Star starters with players and the media panel accounting for 25 percent each
— Marc Stein (@TheSteinLine) December 19, 2016
Considering the NBA All-Star game is completely for the fans, it made more sense when fans had more say in who started the game. But last year, journeyman center Zaza Pachulia finished just 14,000 votes shy of Kawhi Leonard to take the Western Conference’s third frontcourt starter slot.
Props to Pachulia for averaging a double-double at 31 years of age, but nearly beating an MVP candidate and finishing ahead of stars Draymond Green and Blake Griffin was absurd.
While the All-Star Game is mostly for fun, appearances can matter a lot for Hall of Fame consideration and contract incentives. So irresponsible voting can actually have an impact beyond the game itself.
That’s not to say media and players won’t vote irresponsibly, too. The media managed to not vote James Harden to an All-NBA team after he averaged 29 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 7.5 assists.
As always, coaches will still select the seven bench players for each conference.
