The NBA is "introducing significant changes" to its All-Star Game balloting procedures that will "give players and members of the basketball media a say, alongside fans, in voting for the games starters," according to Marc Stein of ESPN.com. Fans will continue to account for 50% of the vote total for starters, with "players and a panel of media members accounting" for 25% each. ASG voting is "scheduled to begin" at 11:00am ET on Christmas Day. Players and select media members will be "eligible to complete one full ballot each" (ESPN.com, 12/19). USA TODAY's Jeff Zillgitt notes the change may "balance out the annual dilemma of voting for popular players vs. players who deserve to start." Player and media votes will "not be disclosed, and about 75 media members will vote" (USA TODAY, 12/20). Nuggets coach Mike Malone said, "It’s a good thing. I’ve seen a lot of All-Star Games where a guy might get voted in as a starter that really may not have ... shouldn’t be on the team. ... It’s a player’s league. Giving them a voice would be great. Giving the media a voice would be great" (DENVER POST, 12/20).
