'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABjAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwgQAAECBQQDAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAgMEBQYSBxMkMSEiQQEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABAURAQABBAMAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEAAhESITFBof/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AzZRdPLemdMq5N7PNbW5NhmnezhBcDDMNjegcvOSkLafbuI40bofQiITUjz0PkoYl3U//2Q=='%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
NBA All-Star Fan Voting is slowly coming to a close. The ten starters are set to be announced on January 26th on the TNT broadcast.
Every year, fans try to do everything they can to impact which players get an All-Star nod. Sometimes they have fun with their votes, while others pour in for their favorites. That being said, here are some takeaways from this year's voting.
1) Golden State Warriors fans run NBA All-Star fan voting
If there is any fanbase that dominates the NBA All-Star Fan Voting, it's the Golden State Warriors. For years they have tried to get as many players from their team in the game as possible.
This wave of Warriors fans started years ago when they tried to get Zaza Pachulia in as a starter. He gained so many votes that the league had to change the format. Then last year, Andrew Wiggins gained enough votes to be a starter after a K-pop star gave him a shoutout.
Once again, the Warriors are well represented in the NBA All-Star Fan Voting. Steph Curry, Thompson, Andrew Wiggins, Draymond Green, and Kevon Looney are all in the top ten of their respective groups.
2) Load management isn't deterring voters
In this era of the NBA, load management is a term often thrown around. While a handful of stars have missed a significant amount of time this season, it did not appear to be a factor in NBA All-Star Fan Voting.
Looking at the Western Conference, Anthony Davis and Zion Williamson are among the top vote-getters in the frontcourt. There is no denying they are star-level talent, but they have been sidelined for stretches this year.
Missed time might hurt players like Davis and Williamson for seasonal awards, but it appears to be a non-issue in the All-Star game.
3) LeBron James is still the King of the NBA
In his twentieth season, LeBron James is still one of the most prominent figures in the league. So far, the LA Lakers star claims the top spot in NBA All-Star Fan Voting. LeBron has over 6.5 million votes, with the next highest having 5.8 million.
At age 38, LeBron is still a high-impact player. So far this year, he is averaging 30.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, and 6.9 assists. Along with his mainstream fame, his outstanding play is a key factor in why he is leading the votes.
4) Derrick Rose fans continue to show love
Derrick Rose was on the fast track to superstardom early in his career. However, injuries went on to completely derail things.
It took time, but Rose managed to work his way back. He never returned to where he was, but he has had some memorable performances. Even though he never fully bounced back, his fans show love when it comes to All-Star voting.
Rose is among the oddest names among all the leaders on the NBA All-Star Fan Voting list. He is not in the New York Knicks' regular rotation but still gets his fair share of votes.
5) It's time to do away with positions
One thing that always comes up when discussing NBA All-Star Fan Voting is positions. The game should be for the top players in the league, but position requirements stop that from happening.
The NBA is position-less now, and it's time for the All-Star game to get on board. Because of these restraints, one of the Eastern Conference's top players will not be a starter.
So far this year, Jayson Tatum, Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, and Giannis Antetokounmpo are putting on MVP-level campaigns. However, one of them will be forced to come off the bench in the All-Star game because of positions.
