The NBA All Star Game might be almost a month away, but everyone is already talking about it. It is one of the most awaited games of the entire season, which has a large number of players who have their hopes tied to being a part of the team.
Among others, Tristan Thompson has been enjoying the support for a spot in the All Star Team. In fact, he is getting international support from French International and Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba as well as from girl friend Khloe Kardashian, both of whom are rooting for him to get a spot in the team. But despite the support, he needs to have good stats to confirm the position, and unfortunately this season has not quite worked out for him as he has averaged 6.9 points and 10.0 rebounds per game.
Every year celebrities and teams campaign for players in an attempt for them to make it to the All Star team. Traditionally, fans were the ones who could alone decide the composition of the team, but starting this year the rules have been changed which have the selection a little less emotional, with the media having a say as well. This way people who have consistently performed well through the season are more likely to make it to the All Star team. This year onward fans will account for 50% of the vote, along with all current NBA players and a panel of basketball media will account for 25 percent each, with each participant completing one full ballot featuring two guards and three frontcourt players from both conferences.
Once the votings are over, each player will be given a rank in their respective conference by position (guard and frontcourt) within each of the three voting groups – fan votes, player votes and media votes. Two guards and three frontcourt players who have the best average score (after tabulating the fan votes, player votes and media votes) will be named in NBA All-Star Game starters. In case there is a tie between two players, the fan votes will serve as the tiebreaker.
Check out the second fan returns of NBA All-Star Voting 2017 presented by Verizon.
NBA ALL-STAR VOTING 2017 PRESENTED BY VERIZON
Eastern Conference
Frontcourt
1 LeBron James (CLE) 1,066,147
2 Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) 963,110
3 Kevin Love (CLE) 473,328
4 Joel Embiid (PHI) 457,300
5 Jimmy Butler (CHI) 400,448
6 Carmelo Anthony (NY) 327,716
7 Kristaps Porzingis (NY) 324,106
8 Paul George (IND) 249,484
9 Jabari Parker (MIL) 120,022
10 Tristan Thompson (CLE) 114,759
Guards
1 Kyrie Irving (CLE) 971,362
2 Dwyane Wade (CHI) 514,866
3 DeMar DeRozan (TOR) 453,538
4 Isaiah Thomas (BOS) 401,671
5 Kyle Lowry (TOR) 256,668
6 Derrick Rose (NY) 223,804
7 John Wall (WAS) 173,148
8 Jeremy Lin (BKN) 109,088
9 Kemba Walker (CHA) 105,637
10 Avery Bradley (BOS) 64,157
Western Conference
Frontcourt
1 Kevin Durant (GS) 987,479
2 Zaza Pachulia (GS) 823,376
3 Kawhi Leonard (SA) 630,766
4 Anthony Davis (NO) 567,201
5 Draymond Green (GS) 464,319
6 DeMarcus Cousins (SAC) 379,225
7 Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) 223,979
8 LaMarcus Aldridge (SA) 192,784
9 Blake Griffin (LAC) 172,393
10 Marc Gasol (MEM) 172,146
Guards
1 Stephen Curry (GS) 990,390
2 James Harden (HOU) 961,685
3 Russell Westbrook (OKC) 899,024
4 Klay Thompson (GS) 555,430
5 Chris Paul (LAC) 379,076
6 Damian Lillard (POR) 208,171
7 Eric Gordon (HOU) 191,407
8 Andre Iguodala (GS) 130,224
9 Manu Ginobili (SA) 122,333
10 Zach LaVine (MIN) 94,867
