Few things are more exciting for basketball fans than the NBA’s all-star weekend when the most talented players in the league come together to put on a show for the world. While the format of the game has changed over the years—it’s no longer east vs. west—the excitement remains the same. The NBA has made fans an integral part of the league’s all-star voting process, allowing them to play a role in determining the composition of the star-studded teams. The league’s goal is to keep the games fresh and avoid total blowouts. This article breaks down the NBA’s process for selecting all-stars.
How Are Starters Selected?
The voting process for the NBA all-star game is probably one of the most complex and difficult to understand in sports. Fan votes, media votes, and current players’ votes to select starters for the NBA All-Star game. The NBA wants fans to tune into the game, so it makes sense that the fan vote accounts for 50% of the total that determines who gets to start in the all-star game.
The media and current players’ votes count for 25% each towards the all-star voting. The all-star ballots allow voters to choose three frontcourt players and two guards from each conference. Plus, fans can vote on Twitter by tweeting the hashtag #NBAAllStar with a hashtag that includes the player’s first and last name. The NBA allows fans to vote on Twitter up to ten times a day using the same Twitter handle or once a day on NBA.com or the NBA app.
The NBA all-star game is the biggest league-wide event leading up to the NBA finals. Being one of the biggest games of the year, it isn’t surprising that many fans choose to bet on the game. Betting gives fans another way to participate in the game, along with voting for their favorite players. Checking the latest NBA championship winner betting odds is a pastime for many fans before and after the all-star game.
The three frontcourt players and two backcourt players with the most votes from each conference become the year’s all-star starters. The league’s head coaches select the game’s reserves, and the commissioner Adam Siler selects injury replacements.
With all of these ways to vote, it’s easy to see how the process could get out of hand. The system has many critics, with people saying it’s heavily biased towards plays in big markets such as Los Angeles and New York. In contrast, teams with talented players in smaller markets like Phoenix are often overlooked. The NBA has tweaked the system over the years, but it’s doubtful it’ll ever satisfy everyone.
The All-Star Draft
Important Dates Before the 2022 All-Star Game
Fans interested in participating in the vote to determine the league’s 2022 all-star players need to keep track of a few dates to ensure their votes are counted. Fan voting ends on January 22nd at midnight eastern standard time. The NBA will announce the starters on January 27th and reserves on February 3rd. We don’t have a date for the NBA draft, but we can expect the league to announce it in the coming weeks.
The NBA all-star game will be held on February 20th, with the slam dunk contest, 3-point contest, and skill challenge held on February 19th.