Until 2016, fans accounted for 100 percent of voting for the starting lineups in the NBA’s annual All-Star Game. In response to lesser players receiving votes through viral campaigns and contests, the NBA made the decision to change its voting model for the 2017 season.
For the past two years, 50 percent of the All-Star vote has come from fans, 25 percent from the media and the remaining 25 percent from active NBA players. The players were given this platform in order to maintain the prestige associated with being selected to be an All-Star starter, but many of their selections have done the opposite.
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Here are five of the most absurd players to have received multiple votes from other players this year.
5. Jahlil Okafor, Nets
Following months of being excluded from "The Process" in Philadelphia, Okafor finally landed in a better situation when he was acquired by the Nets in December. As a former No. 3 overall pick, Okafor has shown flashes of his potential, but his season average of 5.4 points over 11 games? Not quite All-Star caliber.
4. Andre Roberson, Thunder
Defense wins championships, but not necessarily All-Star games. The 2017 All-Defensive Second Team guard hasn’t quite been an All-Star offensively this season, shooting 22 percent from 3-point range and 33 percent from the charity stripe.
3. Cole Aldrich, Timberwolves
An eight-year veteran that has only appeared in 10 games this year for the Timberwolves, Aldrich has managed to receive the same amount of peer votes (three) as he has made field goals this season.
2. Alexis Ajinca, Pelicans
With career averages of 5.3 points and 3.9 rebounds per game, Ajinca has been a serviceable big man in the league; he received a couple of votes too many for a player that will not log one minute this season due to injury.
1. Zaza Pachulia, Warriors
Pachulia lands at number one due to being one of the main reasons there is a new voting system. His 2016 All-Star campaign left him just 14,000 votes shy of landing in the Western Conference starting lineup, thanks to his native Republic of Georgia, Mavericks fans and some help from Wyclef Jean.
It appears a few players, more than likely his Warrior teammates, still view him as an All-Star this season.
(You can see the full list of voting results here.)
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Following last season's voting, Warriors coach Steve Kerr felt players didn't take the voting process seriously; this year's results suggest many have failed to do so once again. There is a chance, however, this is something many players do not want to be bothered by. If that's the case, there may be another change in the voting system on the horizon.
The 67th annual NBA All-Star Game will be played at Staples Center in Los Angeles on Feb. 18 at 8 p.m. ET.
