The NBA announced starters for the 2019 All-Star Game with OKC Thunder star Paul George confirmed thanks to the fan vote.
Prior to games commencing Thursday night the Inside the NBA crew at TNT announced the ten starters for the 2019 All-Star Game. OKC Thunder fans were keen to discover if either of their stars would make the cut. Following the last fan announcement, Paul George was positioned to start in the frontcourt. This didn’t mean he was a cinch because one more round of fans selections, plus player and media votes had to be factored in.
Ultimately the fans are the reason Paul George made the cut as a tiebreak was required to determine the final frontcourt starter. Since PG13 got a higher fan vote than Anthony Davis he gets the nod.
So much for all those people who told George he’d never be an All-Star if he moved to the Western Conference or stayed with a small market.
Paul George says it’s special being named a starter from the Western Conference: “When I got traded here, it was almost ... people thought it was going to be the end of me being an All-Star.” pic.twitter.com/eCk3z2fdoq
— Erik Horne (@ErikkHorne) January 25, 2019
As for who George will be starting with here is the list for both conferences:
Western Conference:
Captain -Top vote recipient – LeBron James
Frontcourt: Kevin Durant and Paul George
Backcourt: Stephen Curry and James Harden
Eastern Conference:
Captain: Giannis Antetokounmpo
Frontcourt: Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid
Backcourt: Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker
Final vote tallies by fans, players, media:
Top 5 Frontcourt:
West:
Fans: LeBron James, Luka Doncic, Kevin Durant, Paul George, Anthony Davis
Media: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Paul George, Nikola Jokic
Players: LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, Paul George, Nikola Jokic
East:
Fans: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Jayson Tatum, Jimmy Butler
Media: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid (3-way tie: Jayson Tatum, Pascal Siakam, Nikola Vucevic)
Players: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Kawhi Leonard, Joel Embiid, Jimmy Butler, Blake Griffin
Top 5 Backcourt:
West:
Fans: Stephen Curry, Derrick Rose, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Klay Thompson
Media: James Harden, Stephen Curry, Russell Westbrook, (Tied: Klay Thompson, Damian Lillard)
Players: Stephen Curry, James Harden, Russell Westbrook, Derrick Rose, Damian Lillard
East:
Fans: Kyrie Irving, Dwyane Wade, Kemba Walker, Ben Simmons, Victor Oladip
Media: Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, Ben Simmons, Victor Oladipo. Bradley Beal
Players: Kyrie Irving, Kemba Walker, Bradley Beal, Victor Oladipo. Ben Simmons
PG-13 has punched his ticket to Charlotte! ⚡️
— NBA TV (@NBATV) January 25, 2019
Paul George is an #NBAAllStar starter! pic.twitter.com/9zSFYimnvA
How the votes shifted:
As it turns out the only tiebreak which was required was for Paul George and Anthony Davis to determine the third frontcourt player in the West.
The players who fans wanted to see play and might not make the final coaches cut are Dwyane Wade, Luka Doncic and Derrick Rose.
Russell Westbrook will join a few players who are likely guaranteed selection by coaches. In the West, those players include Nikola Jokic, Anthony Davis and Damian Lillard. It’s unlikely any team will get three players which means Steven Adams making the squad is unlikely. The one exception could be the Warriors Klay Thompson.
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But, with the West so competitive this season there are a number of teams/players who coaches may want to reward with at least one representative. For example one of the two Spurs stars (LaMarcus Aldridge or DeMar DeRozan) should make the team. Others who’ll likely receive consideration are Donovan Mitchell or Rudy Gobert of the Jazz and Tobias Harris of the Clippers.
In the East, the likely shoo-ins are Kyle Lowry, Ben Simmons, Khris Middleton, and D’Angelo Russell. Others who’ll get consideration are Bradley Beal, Blake Griffin, Nikola Vucevic and possibly rising star Pascal Siakam. Prior to his injury Victor Oladipo was guaranteed selection. The question is whether coaches will look to replace him with someone like Myles Turner to ensure an Indiana player makes the squad.
Given the narrative surrounding Jimmy Butler’s exit from Minnesota and the subsequent firing of Tom Thibodeau, he is the one player not likely to make the cut as coaches will band together to send a message.
Reserve players will be announced next Thursday, January 31 on Inside the NBA.