If the NBA All-Star Game starters were only decided by the fan vote, Kyrie Irving would’ve gotten the nod over Kemba Walker. But fans only account for 50% of the vote. A media panel counts for 25% and current NBA players make up the remaining 25%.
Both the media and current players not only had Walker ahead of Irving, they had him ahead of every Eastern Conference guard.
The players putting Walker that high on their chart is particularly impressive. And that says something about the talent Boston has. The same can be said about Jayson Tatum’s finish amongst Eastern Conference forwards.
His contemporaries slotted him fifth, behind Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, Pascal Siakam and Bam Adebayo. Tatum also finished one spot ahead of Jimmy Butler in the player vote — making those two and Adebayo the favorites to fill the three reserve forward spots out of the East.
He has played very well this season. Tatum is still the better of the two, but Brown has shown more growth — because Tatum was already ahead of him in the development process.
However, this could be a good thing for the Celtics. Given how Brown’s emotions are an important part of his game, this could motivate him to push harder — especially if the NBA head coaches don’t name him a reserve.