With the opening of the All-Star voting channel, many fans have actively participated, and the results on the first day were very good. Second-year rookie Victor Wembanyama ranked first with a commanding lead, which also sounded the alarm for the outside world. Perhaps in the near future, he will become the new face of the league, but his current leadership ability is still limited. On January 3, 2024, Beijing time, according to the NBA's official announcement of the first phase of voting results for the 2025 San Francisco All-Star Weekend, it can be seen that the frontcourt lists in both the East and West are still dominated by veteran players.
Three-time regular season MVP and one-time Finals MVP winner Jokic became the Western Conference's top vote-getter with 1,422,121 votes, leading the pack. Close behind him are Durant and James, known as the "Xuanming Er Lao" in the NBA. Although the former has only played 22 regular-season games this season due to injury, his contributions on the court are simply unmatched, averaging 27.7 points, 6.5 rebounds, and 3.8 assists, becoming the barometer of the Phoenix Suns' victories. At 35 years old, he still maintains a 51% shooting percentage, which is incredible. At the same time, the 40-year-old James is also capable of putting up a comprehensive performance of 38 points, 8 assists, and 3 rebounds against the Portland Trail Blazers.
The highly anticipated French center Wembanyama ranks fifth on the Western Conference frontcourt list, just over 70,000 votes behind fourth-place Anthony Davis. However, this 20-year-old number one pick has put up historically level defense and offense, contributing 50 blocks and 7 steals throughout December. On the offensive end, he has transformed into a scoring machine, with three-pointers becoming a regular weapon. Perhaps the frequent shooting attempts and headstrong playing style have caused some misunderstanding among fans, but what remains unchanged is that Wembanyama has already overshadowed potential stars like Shen Jing who follow him.
In addition, the Eastern Conference landscape has also undergone changes, with Antetokounmpo, Tatum, Towns, and Banchero securing the top four frontcourt spots. Among them, the number one pick from 2022, Banchero, has delivered an excellent performance this season, contributing the league's first 50+ points. Despite being affected by injuries, it will not hinder his progress towards becoming an All-Star. With the precedent set by the frontcourt players, the backcourt players have also had their moment in the spotlight, especially in the East, where LaMelo Ball's total votes rank first among Eastern Conference guards, slightly behind only Alexander, a strong contender for the MVP.
Ball's first-stage vote count reached 947,444, which was somewhat unexpected given his rise. According to the rules for frontcourt players, it can be seen that the players at the top of the list do not have poor team records. However, the Hornets currently have a record of only 7 wins and 25 losses, ranking second-to-last in the East. This title of "assistant class leader" is not enough to support Ball's comeback against the wind. Despite the difficulties posed by an eight-game losing streak, Ball's average of 30 points, 5.3 rebounds, and 7.4 assists has left a deep impression on fans. Especially his flamboyant finishing preparations on the offensive end have maximized the viewing experience, and the last player who could achieve such a sensation was Pacers' backcourt player Haliburton.
However, this gold medalist from the Paris Olympics in the United States began to lose himself this season, with inaccurate shooting on the offensive end and a lack of the fluidity from last season in terms of organizing and linking plays. He has simply become a lifeless passing machine, and relying on him to finish games in critical moments has become a series of absurd operations, with significant reductions in both scoring and assists. One cannot help but wonder if he has embarked on a path of "lying flat" after signing a five-year, $245 million top salary contract. After all, last season he averaged a 20+10, giving Indiana wild ideas and transforming the Pacers into a top-tier offensive team in the league with effective offenses time and time again. Instead, the decline in form this new season has led to poor results and his exclusion from the top ten Eastern Conference backcourt list.
