Cleveland Cavaliers superstar LeBron James is once again leading the All-Star Game voting for the Eastern Conference, putting him in position to become the team captain. But the Cavs forward doesn’t want to go there without his peers.
In a Twitter barrage on Monday, the Cavs’ undisputed leader let his followers know who he would like to see join him in the NBA’s mid-season classic — teammates Isaiah Thomas, Dwyane Wade, and Kevin Love, close friends Chris Paul and Carmelo Anthony, and Ben Simmons.
The endorsement for Love is justifiable especially since the Cavs’ power forward is averaging close to 20-10 for the season. The Houston Rockets’ Paul is also playing extremely well for his new team to be considered for a spot.
Ditto with the Philadelphia 76ers’ Simmons who is playing like he’s already a cinch to win Rookie of the Year despite challengers to the title such as the Boston Celtics’ Jason Tatum and the Utah Jazz’s Donovan Mitchell. And in the reed-thin East, Simmons has the chance to make it as a rookie All-Star.
However, Thomas, Wade, and Anthony are curious choices for the All-Star Game in case fans decide to select them as starters. Thomas has just returned from injury, Wade is averaging his lowest points ever as an NBA player, and Anthony hasn’t meshed well with his Oklahoma City Thunder teammates.
LeBron James has many fans across the globe and an endorsement from their idol could very well shift the landscape of the voting results. That doesn’t mean they all deserve to be starters, though.
We’ll soon find out how much sway the King has in the All-Star Game when the starters are announced.