The first fan voting returns for the 2025 NBA All-Star Game shocked some fans after LaMelo Ball placed ahead of all Eastern Conference guards. The result didn't come as a surprise to many among the Charlotte Hornets faithful, though.
If it weren't for injuries, Ball would have been able to undeniably establish his place as the top point guard in the East. Still, fans appear to appreciate what the 2021 Rookie of the Year has done so far this season.
He is averaging 30.1 points per game, which would put him in fourth place in the league leaders if he hadn't missed many appearances. Ahead of him in the list are Giannis Antetokounmpo, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, and Nikola Jokic, all of whom are also the top vote-getters in their respective positions.
LaMelo Ball is still not assured of an All-Star starting berth
Despite holding a margin of over 200,000 the next East guard, Donovan Mitchell, in the voting, Ball still isn't assured of a starting spot in San Francisco.
Of course, other players can still catch up. In addition, fan voting constitutes only 50 percent in deciding the All-Star starters. NBA players and select media members also vote, and they account for the other 50 percent in the selection process.
It has been that way since 2017 and even helped Hornets legend Kemba Walker secure a starting spot in the 2019 All-Star Game. That year's voting saw Walker rank just third behind at backcourt behind Kyrie Irving and Dwyane Wade. However, he placed second in both players and media voting, allowing him to clinch his sole starting stint in the midseason showcase. Interestingly, Charlotte hosted that All-Star Weekend.
Hopefully, the voting system that buoyed Walker's campaign as a starter five years ago will not be detrimental to Ball's cause this time around. It's unclear if the players and media will agree with the fans, considering that his team is near the bottom of the standings and even ranked second to last in NBA.com's most recent power rankings.
What if Ball does end up blowing the competition away in fan voting only to be "punished" by the Hornets' dismal standings? One can only imagine how exasperating that could be. The last thing the franchise should want is aggrieving the 23-year-old star who has shown the potential to be a key building block to its dreams of becoming a playoff contender one day.
The Hornets certainly need to do a better job of fielding a competitive squad, especially since frustration already seems to be creeping in. Perhaps some changes in coaching philosophy and the roster are in order to provide Ball with all the help he can get.