The NBA All-Star weekend is coming up in February and votes are in. Currently, the most voted player for the All-Star game is Lebron James of the Los Angeles Lakers, as it has been for many years in a row. The All-Star weekend is a time where the fans can choose which players play, which is great for the basketball community. Involving the fans can lead to a better connection with the NBA fanbase and a more enjoyable league.

“I think the All-Star voting is a good way for the NBA to interact with its fans and just have fun while also involving basketball,” sophomore Jamarion Travis said.

Although Lebron is the most voted for player, the most anticipated to watch is Derrick Rose of the Detroit Pistons. He is a current fan favorite because of his amazing recovery from an usually career-ending injury – a torn meniscus in his right knee. Rose’s stats this season are surpassing his stats from the season he won the MVP award in 2011, also making him a fan favorite.

 However, with this many fans involved, conflict and arguments are inevitable.

 Alex Caruso, a guard for the Los Angeles Lakers, is at the center of this conflict. Caruso has become a social media meme, giving him tons of popularity. Caruso has amassed around half a million votes in the All-Star poll, putting him above players like Devin Booker, one of the only players to score 70 points in a game, and other multiple time All-Stars like D’Angelo Russell of the Golden State Warriors and Donovan Mitchell of the Utah Jazz.

This sparked lots of controversy because some fans are questioning whether Caruso really deserves this many votes, and blame it on the fans who voted for Caruso as a joke. Undoubtedly, Caruso is a player of high caliber and a contributor to his team, but many think he is not deserving of all the fame.

“I think Caruso is good, but I think we’ve hit the point where it’s not really funny anymore, it seems like we’re robbing more deserving players of the spotlight they deserve,” Travis said.

 Many believe it is unfair to players that are statistically better but get less attention. However, some fans would say that that is the best part about the All-Star Game. The fans can vote for whoever they want. 

“The All-Star game is pretty popular at Wakeland. Many talk about what team is going to win, who they voted for, and the best players on each team. It’s pretty fun just to talk about it,” sophomore Carson Dann said. 

The role of the fans is crucial during polls for All-Star weekend because not only does it show that the NBA realizes the power of its fans, it is a fun, friendly way way to get involved in a professional sport.