As you may (or may not) know, the rules and stipulations around the creation of the NBA All-Star teams changed this off-season.
Instead of the teams being separated by conference affiliation, they will be chosen by the leading vote getter from each conference who will serve as a team captain.
Each captain will have a pool of eight players voted by fans to be selected as potential starters, followed by seven players voted on by coaches to serve as reserves.
As much as people in the media and the league have requested it, this selection will not be televised at this point, which should prevent some embarrassment, but prevents NBA fans from getting to see the drama and reactions of players as they are essentially rated by their peers old-school style.
The first results have come in for the fan voting for the 2018 All-Star game and here they are…
EASTERN CONFERENCE
Frontcourt
1 Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) 863,416
2 LeBron James (CLE) 856,080
3 Joel Embiid (PHI) 433,161
—————–
4 Kristaps Porzingis (NYK) 359,459
5 Kevin Love (CLE) 221,969
6 Al Horford (BOS) 120,016
7 Jayson Tatum (BOS) 98,586
8 Andre Drummond (DET) 85,374
9 Enes Kanter (NYK) 83,102
10 Dwight Howard (CHA) 57,730
Guards
1 Kyrie Irving (BOS) 802,834
2 DeMar DeRozan (TOR) 259,368
—————
3 Victor Oladipo (IND) 251,886
4 Ben Simmons (PHI) 210,085
5 John Wall (WAS) 175,990
6 Dwyane Wade (CLE) 165,163
7 Isaiah Thomas (CLE) 87,680
8 Kyle Lowry (TOR) 85,070
9 Bradley Beal (WAS) 71,079
10 Jaylen Brown (BOS) 51,562
WESTERN CONFERENCE
Frontcourt
1 Kevin Durant (GSW) 767,402
2 Anthony Davis (NOP) 393,000
3 DeMarcus Cousins (NOP) 356,340
—————
4 Draymond Green (GSW) 325,612
5 Paul George (OKC) 291,495
6 Kawhi Leonard (SAS) 212,650
7 Carmelo Anthony (OKC) 194,239
8 Karl-Anthony Towns (MIN) 188,240
9 Kyle Kuzma (LAL) 184,338
10 LaMarcus Aldridge (SAS) 153,599
Guards
1 Stephen Curry (GSW) 735,115
2 James Harden (HOU) 602,040
———–
3 Russell Westbrook (OKC) 438,469
4 Klay Thompson (GSW) 359,442
5 Manu Ginobili (SAS) 231,460
6 Chris Paul (HOU) 174,343
7 Damian Lillard (POR) 148,622
8 Lonzo Ball (LAL) 120,817
9 Devin Booker (PHO) 91,562
10 Jimmy Butler (MIN) 88,009
So at this point Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo would serve as captains, a bit of a surprise for the Greek Freak to garner that status over LeBron James.
Other starters in the game would currently be: Steph Curry, James Harden, Anthony Davis, DeMarcus Cousins, LeBron James (as previously mentioned), Joel Embiid, Kyrie Irving and DeMar DeRozan.
Initial thoughts, Bradley Beal, Karl Anthony-Towns, Devin Booker and Andre Drummond deserve more love and wow crazy to see rookie Kyle Kuzma on the list, although he is having a great rookie season.
Voting ends at midnight on January 15.
