Hi, folks, I have one question: what's the criteria for making an All-star. To me it's more about the popularity of a player. Deserving or not deserving, that's another issue. Please look at the following quotes about Grant Hill: Link: http://www.nba.com/playerfile/grant_hill/bio.html "A five-time NBA All-Star, Grant Hill has been named to the All-NBA First or Second Team four times and has averaged 21.5 ppg. during his career. 2000-01 Played in only four regular season games for Orlando, averaging 13.8 ppg., 6.3 rpg., 6.3 apg. and 1.25 stlpg in 33.3 minpg....Had season-ending surgery to repair a broken medial malleolus (inside bone of left ankle) on Jan. 3...Led (or tied) the team in scoring twice, including season-high 19 points on Dec. 11 @ L.A. Clippers...Led (or tied) the team in assists three times...Voted starter at 2001 NBA All-Star Game, but unable to play due to injury. " Grant only played four regular season games, but he was still voted to be a starter at 2001 NBA All-Star Game. Deserve or not deserve? Samething with Alonzo Mourning Link: http://www.nba.com/playerfile/alonzo_mourning/bio.html "2000-2001: Missed the first 69 games of the season after being diagnosed with focal glomerulosclerosis, a kidney disorder, after returning from the Olympics in October ... Was voted the starting Eastern Conference center by the fans for the NBA All-Star Game, but was unable to play due to his kidney disorder ... " Deserve or not deserve? Would like to know your comments. Thanks.
I really don't think either pick was deserved...but that's just the way this democracy of the NBA goes. They want to get the fans more involved in the all-star game so that the product they put out there is pleasing to the fanbase. They want to develop the heroes they lack with no truly dominating players, and if the fans get to vote people in who they in turn see at the game, it's more spectacular to them and the player grows more in his legend. They're trying to create legends out of the youth of the NBA and this is the best method they can think of regarding the All-Star team.
The starters are voted in and that causes players that may not deserve to be on the team to make it. The backups are voted on by coaches and is more based on actual talent than celebrity status, so even if a player is overlooked by the fans they will end up on the team if they deserve the spot. It's like DallasThomas said, the NBA wants to get the fans more involved, so they let them vote so they can feel like they have some influence on the NBA. It also let's the NBA know who they should be marketing. There may be a player voted in that they didn't know was as popular as he is and they can adjust marketing accordingly.
