NBA All-Star voting reform: Necessities and challenges
By David MacKay
When NBA Commissioner Adam Silver chose DeMarcus Cousins to replace the injured Kobe Bryant on the 2015 Western Conference All-Star team, he expressed regret that Damian Lillard could not also be selected. When it came right down to it, both players deserved a spot, but there was simply not enough room. After texting with Lillard, Silver concluded that the size of future All-Star rosters needs to be addressed:
“From his standpoint, he did everything that was necessary,” Silver said. “So maybe we have to find a way to expand the slots we have for the All-Star team.”
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While I respect his eagerness to tackle a problem when he sees it, this is probably the wrong solution. The title of NBA All-Star is supposed to be prestigious and relatively exclusive, reserved only for the most elite. Devaluating selection in the name of equity is misguided. If he really wants to solve the issue, he needs to reform the fundamentally flawed voting process.
In the current system, fans vote for the starting lineups while coaches vote for the reserves. This inevitably results in market size, global recognition, and regional bias skewing the starter polls from top to bottom. And you know what? Reserve selection is not perfect either. Coaches are absolutely more knowledgeable than fans, but the number of votes is so small that even the slightest favoritism can influence results.
That is why the struggling, injured Bryant will be a starter until he retires, regardless of health or performance. It is also why players who have not immediately stood out (Tim Duncan) or even played in half of their team’s games (Kevin Durant) got a boost from their preeminent, career-long reputations.
Dec 13, 2013; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder small forward Kevin Durant (35) and Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) reacts during the second quarter at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports
It is not as if Silver is blind to the situation, but his approach thus far says more about his business intellect than his commitment to real change. Increasing available roster spots has potential to increase viewer interest; altering the voting process has potential to alienate fans. You tell me which rainbow ends in a big old pot of gold for the league.
Yet, this is no condemnation of Silver’s savvy. Much can yet be done to change the All-Star selection process for the better. The issue is not new, but the willingness to address it is. As long as we are in the early discussion stages, allow me to offer what I believe to be a reasonable compromise—Just in case Silver ever comes slumming through the blogosphere in a malleable state of mind.
The coaches, players, analysts, and members of the media should all vote first (sorry fans). These votes would not be for starters, but to fill out each 12-man roster in its entirety. Once each vote has been tallied and the 12 players for each team have been determined by the most informed minds, then the fans vote for which of those players deserve the honor of starting.
The fans would still get to vote for the starters and the coaches would still get to fill out the rosters. However; the reversal of order would allow for the weeding out of players that don’t belong on the ballot, while the increased volume of educated opinions would ensure that this is done with marginalized sampling bias. The only real sacrifice in this scenario is pageantry.
Of course, the All-Star voting process will never be absolutely perfect. Unless Silver increases roster size to 14 or 15 (which, by the way, would be pointless since those at the tail end would receive virtually no minutes in the game anyway), there will always be snubs. The commissioner’s prerogative should now be to minimize their occurrence and severity. The NBA community’s reaction to Lillard’s exclusion illustrates this clearly.
Speaking from a place of objectivity in the interest of future All-Star worthy players, something needs to be done. What are your ideas?