NBA players, media to contribute to picking All-Stars
Beginning with the 2017 NBA All-Star Game, the starters for both the Eastern and Western Conferences will not solely be determined by fan voting, the league announced Monday.
Fans will account for 50 percent of the votes, while NBA players and the media will account for 25 percent each.
For first time ever, players & media will join fans in selecting All-Star starters! #NBAAllStar Voting presented by @verizon tips off 12/25 pic.twitter.com/CnVTY7ZWlD
— 2017 NBA All-Star (@NBAAllStar) December 19, 2016
Unlike head coaches - who will maintain their power in selecting the reserves for each roster - players will have the opportunity to vote in their teammates as All-Stars, filling out one full ballot each.
The starting lineups will maintain their positionless format of having two backcourt and three frontcourt spots.
Voting gets underway at 11 a.m. ET on Christmas Day before the scheduled slate of games.
The annual exhibition game will take place Feb. 19, 2017 at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans.