A torn Achilles tendon knocked Warriors sharpshooter Klay Thompson out for the season before it could even begin, after he missed the entire 2019-20 season with a torn ACL. His absence didn’t stop NBA fans from voting him into the top 10 among Western Conference guards in the first returns of 2021 All-Star Game voting.
Thompson has received just over 99,000 votes, ranking him 10th at his position, just behind Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. Thompson is a five-time All-Star, with five consecutive selections from 2015 to 2019.
Even if Thompson were to climb the ranks in fan voting, it’s unlikely that he could be named an All-Star. Fan voting accounts for 50 percent of the vote in selecting All-Star starters, while current players and the media each receive 25 percent of the vote. NBA coaches select All-Star reserves.
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Nets‘ Kevin Durant and Lakers‘ LeBron James lead the NBA’s first All-Star fan voting returns. Warriors’ Stephen Curry and Wizards’ Bradley Beal join Durant and James as leaders at positions. pic.twitter.com/ukvOeyx49H
— Shams Charania (@ShamsCharania) February 4, 2021
Fans sounded off on the early returns on Twitter, and many were upset that Thompson received more votes than several prominent players having strong seasons so far.
