NBA Adds Players, Media Votes to All-Star Game Selections

The NBA All-Star Game starting lineups are no longer just a popularity contest. Starting with the 2017 contest in New Orleans, the NBA will combine fan voting with ballots cast by players and media members to determine the Eastern and Western starters.

Fan voting will continue to comprise 50 percent of the formula used to determine the starters. Player voting will account for 25 percent, while a select number of media members will cast their votes and determine the other quarter of the total.

Fan voting had determined the starting lineups in both conferences since the 1974-75 season. Head coaches will continue to vote to decide the reserves.

Players will be allowed to vote for themselves and teammates. This differs from the policy for head coaches, who are not permitted to vote for their own players.

The NBA's rule is somewhat similar to one adopted by the NFL. Fan voting accounts for one-third of the total determining the Pro Bowl starters, while coaches and players each receive a third. Major League Baseball and the NHL continue to use fan voting to determine their starters.

While these changes may rankle fans, they are a long time coming given the heightened importance All-Star starts can mean for player salaries. Often there are achievable bonuses put in a player's contract tied to things like All-Star appearances and starts. 

Even though fan voting tends to do a solid overall job determining starters—grandfathered players like Kobe Bryant in 2015-16 notwithstanding—taking some of the power away from fans makes things fairer for guys who could have millions of dollars on the line.

Voting for the 2017 All-Star Game is scheduled to begin Christmas Day at 11 a.m. ET and run through Jan. 16 until 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Follow Tyler Conway (@jtylerconway) on Twitter.