A list of NBA players who probably voted for themselves as All-Stars

We got our final tally on NBA All-Star voting today and there were some curious results. A few players definitely picked themselves.

The starters and captains for the 2018 NBA All-Star game were announced today. LeBron James will captain the East squad while Stephen Curry is the top vote-getter for the West. The two captains will draft their teammates, and have a head start on planning their picks, as we already know the other eight starters chosen for the game. The East will be represented by Giannis Antetokounmpo, DeMar DeRozan, Kyrie Irving, and Joel Embiid. The rest of the West starting five is Kevin Durant, Anthony Davis, James Harden, DeMarcus Cousins.

But enough about that.

Tim Cato of SBNation pulled a particularly peculiar list of players who each received a single player vote towards their all-star candidacy.

We admire the confidence it takes to fill out your players’ ballot knowing well and good you’ll be the only one choosing yourself. Hey, if you don’t believe in yourself how can you expect anybody else to?

There’s a chance these votes came from somebody else. Maybe a teammate, a friend, or an enemy playing a prank on them cast their vote for some of these players. Let’s break down the list and who it could be if it wasn’t themselves.

Nerlens Noel

Poor Nerlens. The fourth-year center out of Kentucky was traded from Philadelphia for a fake first-round pick last year. He then reportedly turned down a contract offer worth $17.5 million per season from the Mavs in the search of a higher payday. He eventually signed a one-year deal for $4.2 million, betting on himself, and has been stuck on the bench ever since.

Maybe one of Noel’s former Philly teammates cast him a vote of confidence. We’d say it could be Joel Embiid, based on the fact the first-time All-Star once said Noel was his best friend since he landed in Philly. But then again, we can’t see Embiid voting for anybody but himself. In fact, we bet Embiid’s ballot was just his own name over and over and over again. Another possible candidate is fellow Philadelphia-exile Michael Carter-Williams, as he can relate to Noel’s situation. We’d bet his name would also be on this list as well if that were the case. We’re left with no other options but to say that yes, indeed, Nerlens Noel voted for himself.

Gerald Green

Gerald Green has looked like an All-Star in the 10 games he’s played with Houston since returning to the NBA. His good friend James Harden helped the guard get signed to the Rockets after he went down with an injury, and Green has filled in for the MVP-hopeful quite nicely in his absence.

James Harden voted for Gerald Green, and he’s a little bit mad that Trevor Ariza didn’t vote for him as well. Case closed.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope

Our best guess is that Avery Bradley could have voted for KCP as a thank you that he left Detroit for Los Angeles and created the Piston’s need for his services. Bradley’s role has increased because of his move to Detroit, and will most likely reap the benefits financially this offseason when he hits free agency. An All-Star vote for the man he replaced is a nice way to say thanks.

Mario Hezonja

Here are some quotes from Mario Hezonja.

“Respect? No, I never had respect to anybody on a basketball court.”

“If I was in college, I’d probably be the No. 1 pick.”

“Let Messi come to see me.”

Mario Hezonja definitely voted for himself.

Kosta Koufos

Our theory is that Giannis Antetokounmpo voted for Koufos in hopes to raise the number of Greek NBA All-Stars. It’s pretty much the best theory we can come up with.

Cam Payne

Payne is currently averaging 5.2 points, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per game playing an average of 14.9 minutes per game combined in his time with Oklahoma City and Chicago. You know what those numbers represent when subtracted from OKC and added to the Bulls? 5.2 points, 1.8 assists, and 1.5 rebounds per game closer to another triple-double season for Russell Westbrook. Brodie voted for Payne to say thanks for the extra stats.

Langston Galloway

Galloway and his wife recently revealed the gender of their expected child by having Langston dunk a basketball through a hoop that exploded into blue confetti.

It’s a boy!

It’s also the kind of showmanship that tells us Galloway for sure cast that vote for himself.

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Luke Kennard

Luke Kennard is a rookie averaging 6.4 points, 2.0 rebounds, and 1.2 assists per game in 17.6 minutes per game with Detriot. Nobody else voted for Luke Kennard as an All-Star. Luke Kennard went to Duke. Luke Kennard voted for Luke Kennard.

That’s that.