NBA All-Star Game 2020: Alex Caruso and Tacko Fall among biggest fan voting surprises

Micah Adams

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NBA All-Star Game 2020: Alex Caruso and Tacko Fall among biggest fan voting surprises image

The first returns for All-Star fan voting have been released and two of the names that stood out among the 40 listed include Alex Caruso and Tacko Fall.

VOTE FOR THE 2020 ALL-STAR GAME

Thursday's release included the top 10 guards and top 10 frontcourt players in both the Western and Eastern Conferences.

 

 

Caruso ranked eighth among Western Conference guards while Fall is currently sixth among frontcourt players in the Eastern Conference.

Alex Caruso

Caruso has become somewhat of a niche icon given his dunking ability and contributions for a Lakers team that's currently atop the West.

Although he has yet to start, the third-year guard is averaging just under 20 minutes a game off the bench, averaging 5.4 points, 1.7 assists and 1.1 steals per game. The high-flyer has had several notable throw downs, including this emphatic putback over the Nuggets back in December.

Of course, that's not the only one. 

 

Undrafted out of Texas A&M, the 25-year-old  is one of four Lakers to appear on Thursday's reveal. The other three - LeBron James, Anthony Davis and Dwight Howard - have a combined 29 All-Star appearances.

Tacko Fall

Fall has played in only three games for the Celtics for a total of 11 minutes and yet has already cemented his status as a fan favourite with the Boston Celtics. 

Check out the reaction when he subbed in for the first time at TD Garden as noted by Boston Globe writer Gary Washburn.

 

Also... don't let that limited playing time distract you from the fact that numbers never lie. Case in point?

 

 

The 7'5" centre out of Central Florida went undrafted before being picked up by the Celtics and has done most of his damage for the Maine Red Claws, Boston's G-League team.  In 11 games, Fall has averaged 14.1 points, 10.7 rebounds and 2.6 blocks in 23.3 minutes per game.

Fall is among five Celtics to appear on the initial returns along with Kemba Walker, Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Gordon Hayward.

The views expressed here do not represent those of the NBA or its clubs.

Micah Adams

Micah Adams Photo

Micah Adams is a Managing Editor and Head of Affiliate and Commercial Content at Sporting News. Prior to joining SN in 2021, Adams spent over a decade producing and leading content teams at ESPN, DAZN and The Social Institute. Adams graduated from Duke University in 2009 and remains a Cameron Crazie at heart well into his 30s. When not losing sleep or hair over the Blue Devils, Kansas City Chiefs, Chicago Bulls, and USMNT, Adams enjoys chasing his two small children around along with his wife, losing golf balls, spending time outdoors and binging terrible movies.