Suns guards Booker, Paul hold steady in 2nd returns of NBA All-Star voting
Feb 11, 2021, 10:56 AM | Updated: 11:43 am
Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul (3) attempts to pass the ball to guard Devin Booker (1), but Houston Rockets guard Victor Oladipo, right, knocks it away, while Rockets guard Eric Gordon, back, watches during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Jan. 20, 2021, in Houston. (AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
(AP Photo/Michael Wyke)
Phoenix Suns guards Devin Booker and Chris Paul remain sixth and seventh, respectively, in the second round of NBA All-Star fan voting returns.
Atop the guard vote-getters for the Western Conference, Booker (391,116 votes) and Paul (278,128) trail the following players, in order: Golden State’s Stephen Curry, Dallas’ Luka Doncic, Portland’s Damian Lillard, Utah’s Donovan Mitchell and Memphis’ Ja Morant.
That top-five hasn’t changed since the first set of returns, though Mitchell jumped Morant in the totals.
Paul is a 10-time All-Star, while Booker became a first-timer last season.
“I think this year, he has the stats and wins, and that’s what I think is a good combination to get the vote,” Suns coach Monty Williams said Wednesday about Booker. “His ability to carry us, big-shot making, the all-around play, what he does on the defensive end — but I think if I were to make it short and sweet, the winning and the numbers speak for themselves.”
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Behind the Suns’ duo is the Warriors’ Klay Thompson, who has 225,169 votes but is out for the year due to an Achilles injury suffered in the offseason.
Thompson is followed by the Trail Blazers’ C.J. McCollum and the Lakers’ Alex Caruso to round out the top-10 guards in the Western Conference.
The voting will decide the NBA All-Star starters for each conference, and the starting lineup will include three frontcourt players and two backcourt players. While fans account for 50% of the voting weight, NBA players and select media members will account for 25% each.
Voting for the starters ends Feb. 16, and reserves for the All-Star game will be decided by NBA coaches.
The league and its players union have been planning for the game to take place on March 7 in Atlanta despite pushback from some players, including the Lakers’ LeBron James.
2021 All-Star Voting (Second returns)
Western Conference
Frontcourt
1. LeBron James (LAL) 4,369,533
2. Nikola Jokić (DEN) 3,006,981
3. Kawhi Leonard (LAC) 2,462,621
4. Anthony Davis (LAL) 2,329,371
5. Paul George (LAC) 1,024,233
6. Zion Williamson (NOP) 842,439
7. Andrew Wiggins (GSW) 552,661
8. Christian Wood (HOU) 525,018
9. Brandon Ingram (NOP) 433,041
10. Carmelo Anthony (POR) 346,812
Guards
1. Stephen Curry (GSW) 4,033,050
2. Luka Dončić (DAL) 2,484,552
3. Damian Lillard (POR) 2,095,157
4. Donovan Mitchell (UTA) 479,241
5. Ja Morant (MEM) 437,632
6. Devin Booker (PHX) 391,116
7. Chris Paul (PHX) 278,128
8. Klay Thompson (GSW) 225,169
9. CJ McCollum (POR) 218,160
10. Alex Caruso (LAL) 214,997
Eastern Conference
Frontcourt
1. Kevin Durant (BKN) 4,234,433
2. Giannis Antetokounmpo (MIL) 3,282,478
3. Joel Embiid (PHI) 3,022,105
4. Jayson Tatum (BOS) 1,680,780
5. Jimmy Butler (MIA) 662,691
6. Bam Adebayo (MIA) 578,133
7. Domantas Sabonis (IND) 397,711
8. Julius Randle (NYK) 387,114
9. Gordon Hayward (CHA) 352,667
10. Jerami Grant (DET) 282,605
Guards
1. Bradley Beal (WAS) 2,528,719
2. Kyrie Irving (BKN) 2,104,130
3. James Harden (BKN) 1,829,504
4. Jaylen Brown (BOS) 1,062,888
5. Zach LaVine (CHI) 936,309
6. Trae Young (ATL) 737,126
7. Collin Sexton (CLE) 365,942
8. Derrick Rose (NYK) 342,177
9. Russell Westbrook (WAS) 339,498
10. Fred VanVleet (TOR) 255,161
