I think the "all-star" achievement should mean something. It should reflect how well a player has played. Not how popular they are. Just my opinion.
To be fair, undeserving all-stars are all former TRUE all-stars who are past their primes(has there been someone who isn't?). So really it's just a difference of a HOF caliber player having 8 all-star appearances vs 6 of them or something. Besides, while Iverson or T-Mac may not be all-star level players, but they are players who once were among the very, very best.
We already have awards for that, they're called All-NBA team selections, as well as the individual awards (MVP, 6th man, most improved player, ROY, DPOY etc). The ASG has been a popularity contest, and it should remain a popularity contest. How else would you know which athletes attract the most attention? From an owner standpoint its nice to know your players aren't just good on the court, they also attract the paying customers by droves as well.
so if MJ makes a comeback and fans vote him in then the nba is just supposed to say no? but i do see the point of contract negotiations b/c it means ur popular and able to sell tickets.
It's not like the media knows any better either If they really wanted "all stars", they should let the league's coaching staff and scouts do the picking.
I think the people who will be watching should get to vote. So, not the public -- the NBA's vendors and business partners should vote, they are the ones that will be getting the tickets to the game.
The fan voting for T-Mac and Iverson this year (and Iverson last year) has been particularly bad. That said, IMO the fans have generally made better picks than the coaches, Stern, and players (whining from the Cavs was basically the only reason Mo Williams was picked as a replacement last year). Fans generally overrate flashy scoring skills and past accomplishments. The NBA insiders go one dumber and massively overrate first-half team records and fluke years. Guys like Dale Davis, Wally Sczerbiak, Jamaal Magloire, and Mo Williams have had their names enshrined as "All-Stars" in the record books for all time next to true superstars like Duncan, Kobe, and Lebron. Remember when Rasheed Wallace got picked in 2006 while putting up 15 ppg, 7 rpg, and 0.43 FG%, just because he was on a very good Pistons team? The NBA community nearly pressured itself into making Tayshaun Prince an All-Star that year. These NBA insiders are throwing stones from a glass house when they criticize the fans.
I think it you get recognition for being an "x" all-star, you should earn that right. And in this year Iverson and Tmac are voted in by a lot of people just because they want to know, if they playing even when they not have a team, or have played very little time.
