This season the NBA will be trying out something new with the All-Star balloting by removing the center position from the ballot. Instead, three “frontcourt” players will be voted on as starters without the requirement of voting in a starting center for both conferences.
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Initially, this move has gotten mixed reviews. Some believe it’s a mistake and others think it should’ve happened years ago with a lot of great players losing opportunities to become an All-Star or an All-Star starter.
According to Lakers Nation reporter Serena Winters, Dwight Howard isn’t all that happy with the new rule for the All-Star ballots:
Dwight on [Center] being taken off all star ballot “I don’t like it at all. We work just as hard as anybody else. I don’t think it’s right”
— Serena Winters (@SerenaWinters) November 5, 2012
It comes as no surprise that Howard isn’t a fan of the new rule put into effect this season by the league as he’s directly impacted by it.
Over the past few years, no one in the Eastern Conference has stood a chance at being voted in as the starting center due to Howard’s dominance at the position. It’s safe to assume that if Howard continues to put up big numbers with the Los Angeles Lakers that he wouldn’t have much competition in the Western Conference either.
Regardless of the new rule, it’s hard to imagine that Howard won’t be an All-Star this season and beyond if he stays in the West. There’s a talented group of frontcourt players in the West, but none that compare to Howard’s superstar status or threatened his stance as a perennial All-Star starter.
