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Villanova in the Pros

Villanova in the Pros: Jalen Brunson’s Early All-Star Voting Results

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Villanova Wildcats Mascot March 18, 2022 David Hague/PSN

New York Knicks point guard and two-time Villanova Wildcats national champion Jalen Brunson ranks among the top players in the NBA this season, and he saw his efforts rewarded on Thursday, Jan. 2 when the first fan returns for All-Star Game voting became public.

Brunson received the fourth-most fan votes of any backcourt member in the Eastern Conference with 477,253. Ahead of him are Charlotte’s LaMelo Ball (947,444), Cleveland’s Donovan Mitchell (718,084) and Milwaukee’s Damien Lillard (704,914). Fans account for 50 percent of the vote to determine All-Star starters: media and players each hold a 25 percent share. Brunson ranks ninth in the NBA with 25.2 points per game this season, while his 7.7 assists per game are good for eighth in the league.

The next fan vote benchmark will release on Thursday, Jan. 9, with voting ending on Monday, Jan. 20.

Brunson has played in 33 of a possible 34 games for the Knicks this season, although he missed their most recent game, a Jan. 1 win over the Utah Jazz, with calf tightness. Currently listed as questionable for the Knicks’ Friday, Jan. 3 road game against the Oklahoma City Thunder, it sounds like Brunson’s injury shouldn’t keep him out for long. Oklahoma City currently possesses the longest winning streak in the NBA at 13 games, while New York’s ongoing streak ranks second at nine, making the game a must-see matchup with or without Brunson.

All-Star Format Shuffles

The NBA has toyed with their All-Star Game format in recent years in an attempt to boost viewership, and this season is no different. Instead of two teams facing off as per usual, players will split into three teams comprised of eight players each, determined in a draft conducted by TNT Inside the NBA commentators Shaquille O’Neal, Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith. Two semifinal games will determine the championship round. In each of the contests, the first team to hit 40 points will claim victory.

The fourth team to round out the bracket will be the team that wins the championship game of the Castrol Rising Stars, the annual showcase of top first- and second-year NBA players and NBA G League standouts, set for Friday, Feb. 14 as part of the festivities ahead of the Sunday, Feb. 16 All-Star Game.

Even with the extra teams, All-Star starter honors remain reserved for the top five players in each conference: with Brunson currently occupying the No. 4 spot in the backcourt, he’s on the outside looking in regarding starting honors. This would mark his second selection to the game after serving as an All-Star reserve last season.

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