Kerr criticizes players for making mockery of All-Star voting
Despite the extreme makeover this year's All-Star voting process underwent by taking away half of the fans' influence, there are some notable flaws in its execution that need to be addressed in future seasons.
A number of names who have seen very little action this season - some of which haven't even played a game at all - received votes from their fellow players, who comprised 25 percent of the total vote.
Golden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr - who will play a part in selecting the All-Star reserves - wishes the league's players would have put more thought into their votes instead of throwing some of them away.
"I am very disappointed in the players, though. I mean, they've asked for a vote and a lot of them just made a mockery of it," Kerr told reporters on Monday, according to ESPN's Ethan Strauss. "So, I don't know what the point is. So, that was too bad, but all in all, these things are always going to be debatable about who's starting and who gets named. There's always going to be worthy players left out of the starting lineup, left out of the roster entirely. It's the same thing every year and I don't know what the perfect answer is."
Some of the more peculiar names on the ballot included Mo Williams (retired), Georgios Papagiannis (two total points) and Quincy Pondexter (hasn't played this season, or last).
"I saw the list. I saw all the guys who got votes and I don't know. Are you allowed to vote for yourself? Ya? So I don't know, are guys voting for themselves?" Kerr asked. "I mean, there were 50 guys on there who had no business getting votes. So, although a lot of people wrote in their buddies for the presidential vote as well, so maybe that's just their own way of making a statement, but I just, I think if you're going to give the players (power), I think they should take it seriously. That's my own thought."
DeMar DeRozan (Raptors), Kyrie Irving and LeBron James (Cavaliers), Giannis Antetokounmpo (Bucks), and Jimmy Butler (Bulls) were named starters for the Eastern Conference, while Stephen Curry and Kevin Durant (Warriors), James Harden (Rockets), Kawhi Leonard (Spurs), and Anthony Davis (Pelicans) were voted in for the Western Conference.