Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. has been having the best season of his career as the Nets have been able to put him in the role of being the primary scoring option. Despite never being in that role during his time with the Denver Nuggets, Porter’s game has blossomed within Brooklyn’s system to the point that some wonder if he’ll make the NBA All-Star team.
The NBA announced on Thursday that the voting for the All-Star Game is open and that fans can vote for whoever they want in the All-Star Game, typical procedure for this time of the season. As has been the case in the past, the Eastern and Western Conferences get 12 All-Stars each in the form of five starters (voted on by the fans, players, and media) and seven reserves (voted on by the league’s head coaches).
It is important to note that around the league, it seems that Porter is not predicted to make the All-Star team, either as a starter or as a reserve, but it makes sense from the outside looking in. While Porter is averaging 25.6 points, 7.3 rebounds, and 3.2 assists per game while shooting 49.7% from the field and 39.9% from three-point land, he is doing so on a Nets team that is currently 7-18.
It seems that the usual criteria for voters is some combination of winning and statistical production, but it looks like Porter won’t have the winning piece of the puzzle, at least as it stands right now. The All-Star teams will also be positionless this season so the voting will come down to who is considered the top-12 players in the Eastern Conference, regardless of any lack of positional balance.
For instance, CBS Sports’ Sam Quinn recently gave his predictions for the East All-Star team and among his 12 picks, eight of the players are either listed as a forward or a center so either way, Porter has his work cut out for him. Voting for the All-Star Game will end on Jan. 14 so Porter has less than one month to prove that he deserves to make the All-Star team for the first time in his career.