2020-21 NBA All-Star Starters Announced

[Orion Bailey]

I'd like to see how the Blazers players voted. Hopefully they didn't vote for Doncic at all..ha

umm thats grounds for release from the team!!

 

[Pinwheel1]

Im not sure because he's White he gets it? Do ylu realize how big Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas is, not to mention Doncic popularity around the world.
There's a black players that got snubbed to like Donavon Mitchell, but he to is in a small market area. Just my opinion.

Yao Ming was pretty good as well, but to dominate the all-star vote as he did was ridiculous. As I recall it was not even close.

 

[trailblazer18]

Yao Ming was pretty good as well, but to dominate the all-star vote as he did was ridiculous. As I recall it was not even close.

I'm still convinced (my own conspiracy) that the NBA has to manipulate the Chinese vote. If they didn't, Jeremy Lin would have started the All-Star game for years.

 

[Natebishop3]

I'm still convinced (my own conspiracy) that the NBA has to manipulate the Chinese vote. If they didn't, Jeremy Lin would have started the All-Star game for years.

I wish he did. It would expose how dumb the whole thing is.

 

[Minstrel]

Im not sure because he's White he gets it? Do ylu realize how big Dallas / Fort Worth, Texas is, not to mention Doncic popularity around the world.
There's a black players that got snubbed to like Donavon Mitchell, but he to is in a small market area. Just my opinion.

Yeah, that was a reference. It was a famous quote from Dennis Rodman about Larry Bird, which caused a great deal of consternation.

I think Doncic is the truth, an amazing talent, especially considering what he's doing at such a young age. I think he's popular because he's great and he's new, and the fact that he comes from a larger media market doesn't hurt.

 

[Natebishop3]

Yeah, that was a reference. It was a famous quote from Dennis Rodman about Larry Bird, which caused a great deal of consternation.

I think Doncic is the truth, an amazing talent, especially considering what he's doing at such a young age. I think he's popular because he's great and he's new, and the fact that he comes from a larger media market doesn't hurt.

You don't think the fact that he's white plays any role at all?

 

[Minstrel]

You don't think the fact that he's white plays any role at all?

Not really. I don't think whiteness in basketball plays the kind of role it did in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, where audiences were actively bothered by how "black" the game was. Not only do I think that has faded, white All Stars aren't quite as rare. They're still not super common but over the past decade, you've had guys like Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Love and Luka Doncic, all of them being worthy All Stars. I don't think audiences are searching for the "great white hope."

 

[Natebishop3]

Not really. I don't think whiteness in basketball plays the kind of role it did in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, where audiences were actively bothered by how "black" the game was. Not only do I think that has faded, white All Stars aren't quite as rare. They're still not super common but over the past decade, you've had guys like Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Love and Luka Doncic, all of them being worthy All Stars. I don't think audiences are searching for the "great white hope."

I don't think they're searching for it. I think subconsciously a really talented white player stands out for some people.

Do you think Jason Williams would have stood out as much as he did if he had been black? There were other streetball type players in the league at the time. And more importantly, do you think a fairly subpar player would still be talked about for as long after he was gone from the game if he hadn't been white?

 

[Pinwheel1]

I'm still convinced (my own conspiracy) that the NBA has to manipulate the Chinese vote. If they didn't, Jeremy Lin would have started the All-Star game for years.

Except Ming is Chinese who was born in Shanghai (Population 24 million)
while Lin is a Taiwanese American born in Palo Alto (Population 66,000)

 

[Pinwheel1]

You don't think the fact that he's white plays any role at all?

No, I dislike him equally as much as any black player who whines/flops like a little bitch

 

[Orion Bailey]

I don't think they're searching for it. I think subconsciously a really talented white player stands out for some people.

Do you think Jason Williams would have stood out as much as he did if he had been black? There were other streetball type players in the league at the time. And more importantly, do you think a fairly subpar player would still be talked about for as long after he was gone from the game if he hadn't been white?

You see his dribbling and passing highlights? Not sure ive ever seen anything like it from anyone else, regardless of color. Though im sure i havent seen them all, from what i have seen Jason Williams was the best dribbler/passer ive ever seen in the nba. Just too inconsistent at times. But some of the things he did I'm not sure anyone else can do.

 

[Wizard Mentor]

You see his dribbling and passing highlights? Not sure ive ever seen anything like it from anyone else, regardless of color. Though im sure i havent seen them all, from what i have seen Jason Williams was the best dribbler/passer ive ever seen in the nba. Just too inconsistent at times. But some of the things he did I'm not sure anyone else can do.

Some of the black players at the time said that they weren't allowed to do those things.

 

[Orion Bailey]

Some of the black players at the time said that they weren't allowed to do those things.

whhaaaaaattr????

any links. Not that i dont believe you but if true thats serious shit.
Players actively told they cant do no look behind the back, between the legs passes?

 

[STOMP]

Has it changed? Last I knew the all-NBA team was selected by the media.

Argh, you are correct... my bad!

STOMP

 

[Wizard Mentor]

whhaaaaaattr????

any links. Not that i dont believe you but if true thats serious shit.
Players actively told they cant do no look behind the back, between the legs passes?

in college, yes...
and it's not surprising. Do you think Larry Brown, Dean Smith, Coach K... are going to say go ahead, streetball it? Unlikely. They try to teach undisciplined 18 year olds some discipline.

 

[Orion Bailey]

in college, yes...
and it's not surprising. Do you think Larry Brown, Dean Smith, Coach K... are going to say go ahead, streetball it? Unlikely. They try to teach undisciplined 18 year olds some discipline.

ugh. Lame if so. Play to a players strengths. Game probably would have evolved much quicker if not held back by these old schoolers.

 

[blazerkor]

Not really. I don't think whiteness in basketball plays the kind of role it did in the 1960s, 70s and 80s, where audiences were actively bothered by how "black" the game was. Not only do I think that has faded, white All Stars aren't quite as rare. They're still not super common but over the past decade, you've had guys like Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki, Kevin Love and Luka Doncic, all of them being worthy All Stars. I don't think audiences are searching for the "great white hope."

I think there is inherent bias not because of some white supremacy bullshit (although who really knows) but because white players are seen by the majority of fans as underdogs. I don't know if Luka is and don't think Dirk was but the media has definitely treated Nash and Love like absolute darlings. They have both been heralded as being better than they actually were. But hey Steph is a person of color and I can't think of a more ridiculous thing than a one way player being the only unanimous MVP ever. Not Jordan, LeBron, Magic, Bird, Kareem, Wilt, The Big O but Steph fucking Curry. So I guess it might not be a skin color thing but the media does love to push some weird narratives and fans sure do buy into them.

 

[Minstrel]

But hey Steph is a person of color and I can't think of a more ridiculous thing than a one way player being the only unanimous MVP ever. Not Jordan, LeBron, Magic, Bird, Kareem, Wilt, The Big O but Steph fucking Curry. So I guess it might not be a skin color thing but the media does love to push some weird narratives and fans sure do buy into them.

Man, you really detest Curry haha. You pretty much take any opportunity to talk about how overrated he is.

I don't personally think he's overrated, but there's certainly a large group that thinks like you do.

 

[illmatic99]

This has nothing to do with race or market. It's popularity. Luka and Steph are both incredibly popular amongst the youth.

Dame is workman like. While we all see the snippets on social with his 40 foot bombs, his game is incredibly reliant on fundamentals. Look at his first step for instance-- no wasted motion. It's not flashy at all. Even his crossovers are super basic (albeit hella effective). He's like the anti-Kyrie with his handle. This doesn't appeal to the masses, nor does his glare after hitting game winners. Compare that to Steph dancing around after every single made shot as if he's God's gift to earth.

 

[Minstrel]

Do you think Jason Williams would have stood out as much as he did if he had been black? There were other streetball type players in the league at the time. And more importantly, do you think a fairly subpar player would still be talked about for as long after he was gone from the game if he hadn't been white?

That's a good question. I'm certainly not saying race has no effect at all, but I don't think that's a big factor in Doncic's popularity. Doncic caught people's imaginations as a prospect, because he was doing remarkable things in Europe. Euroleague MVP at 17 or 18 or whatever is incredible. And he's lived up to the hype in the NBA...his first couple years were two of the best ever for someone that young. I think that's by and large what's driving his popularity. He's the new hotness. Does being white have any influence whatsoever? Maybe--I wouldn't be shocked if so, but it doesn't seem to me like the main thing. I think if he were black, he'd still be a phenomenon.

 

[blazerkor]

Man, you really detest Curry haha. You pretty much take any opportunity to talk about how overrated he is.

I don't personally think he's overrated, but there's certainly a large group that thinks like you do.

I don't hate Steph I just hate on Steph. It's not a reaction to the player or person I see him as but my reaction to the way so many overvalue the player and person they see him being. In reality if Steph was seen as the greatest shooter of all time and having a good handle and being a decent passer with holes in his game all over the place besides those very important skills, then I'd be totally cool with him.

 

[Duckhook]

I would guess Lillard has pockets of NBA fans that detest him based on what he's done to their organizations with prime time buzzer beaters, hand waves, stone cold facial expressions, etc. I love Dame as does the Portland fanbase. But try getting an all star vote of out Houston and OKC fans not to mention many other fan bases Dame has deflated in his career.

 

[Hoopguru]

You don't think the fact that he's white plays any role at all?

He got nearly 1/2 million more votes than Dame. Its because of population and European votes that have been following Doncic for years. Possibly a good percentage of Euros could have be white but in the good old USA round baller fans like us would vote for whomever they follow. Im sure a good percentage of that nearly 1/2 million votes were black or some other ethnicity.

 

[PCmor7]

Argh, you are correct... my bad!

STOMP

Go sit on the bench with Blevins.

 

[blazerkor]

He got nearly 1/2 million more votes than Dame. Its because of population and European votes that have been following Doncic for years. Possibly a good percentage of Euros could have be white but in the good old USA round baller fans like us would vote for whomever they follow. Im sure a good percentage of that nearly 1/2 million votes were black or some other ethnicity.

I don't think every team's base is the same as "round baller fans like us". I see Boston, Cleveland, Utah and other teams' fan bases talking about who the best white player is and if they are underrated a lot more than we do. I know that Portland is the whitest major metro area in the U.S. outside of Pittsburgh but that doesn't mean we have the cultural biases that stat might indicate, other areas might have those biases though.

 

[Cugel]

I am a reasonably intelligent guy and for the life of me can't figure out how the all star team selection works. There are captains that pick the teams but the starters are already determined?

 

[PtldPlatypus]

I am a reasonably intelligent guy and for the life of me can't figure out how the all star team selection works. There are captains that pick the teams but the starters are already determined?

10 starters are picked by the process we've just seen (and apparently hate?). 2 of those starters are the team captains. When the captains select their teams, the first 8 picks have to be the non-captain starter selections. Then the reserves will be selected, starting with pick #9.

 

[blazerkor]

I am a reasonably intelligent guy and for the life of me can't figure out how the all star team selection works. There are captains that pick the teams but the starters are already determined?

Yeah, the "captains" choose back and forth between the other 8 starters and then back an forth after that with the reserves. One guy gets first pick of starters and the other the first pick of the reserves.

 

[Hoopguru]

I don't think every team's base is the same as "round baller fans like us". I see Boston, Cleveland, Utah and other teams' fan bases talking about who the best white player is and if they are underrated a lot more than we do. I know that Portland is the whitest major metro area in the U.S. outside of Pittsburgh but that doesn't mean we have the cultural biases that stat might indicate, other areas might have those biases though.

I thing regardless of the city you live in NBA fans will vote whom they follow and like regardless of color. Ive got friends in Milwaukee, Boston, Chicago and other cities that are huge basketball fans both pro & college and they will support legit players regardless of color, and try not to be bias and if they are its because of team they team, player or conference, not race. Dame imo has outplayed Doncic, and I would select select Mitchell over Doncic. Im a white dude.

 

[trailblazer18]

Except Ming is Chinese who was born in Shanghai (Population 24 million)
while Lin is a Taiwanese American born in Palo Alto (Population 66,000)

Tell that to the 1.4 billion mainland Chinese...they definitely think of him as Chinese, but this is one of the three T topics you don't discuss openly in the mainland.