Final NBA All-Star voting returns do not bode well for the reeling Indiana Pacers

The NBA has recently released its 2022 NBA All-Star Game starters, and as you might have guessed by now, the Indiana Pacers will not have any representative on the exclusive shortlist.

While the list was far from the most popular for fans and pundits, with one first-timer even drawing major flak for being a cold-shouldered toss-in, Pacers fans can only hope so much for someone to even banner them in the festivities, with the final All-Star voting returns pointing to the franchise not having a candidate to carry the Circle City on their back.

Indiana does have Domantas Sabonis, an All-Star in the previous two seasons, who has a strong argument for this third consecutive nod, but given the Pacers’ poor record in the present campaign, his sheer statistical stature may not be enough to catapult him to an All-Star berth.

The Indiana Pacers may not have an All-Star this season as the NBA All-Star voting returns point to

In the complete voting results for the All-Star starters, the Indiana Pacers did not even have a single entry, either in the top 10 of the Eastern Conference backcourt or frontcourt picks.

It’s completely expected for usual shoe-ins like Kevin Durant, Giannis Antetokounmpo, Joel Embiid, and Jayson Tatum to rank atop the list, but would-be first-timers like Jarrett Allen and Miles Bridges were heads and shoulders above any Pacer on the list, essentially putting a nail on the coffin for Indiana’s All-Star hopes this season.

The coaches will select the All-Star reserves, but with team play and record having substantial influence on their selections, Domas may once again peak as an injury replacement like last season. However, unlike in 2021, the East now boasts a lot of frontcourt player with stronger bids, like Pascal Siakam, Miles Bridges, and Bam Adebayo, who all missed last year’s festivities.

Fans can’t expect for the Pacers to have an All-Star in the backcourt positions either, as Malcolm Brogdon and Caris LeVert, their top guards, have fallen behind their peers on the court this season while missing an ample chunk of games due to injury.

If the Blue and Gold indeed ends up without an All-Star, this would be the first time since 2015 that they would not be represented in the games. It would take a big stroke of luck for even their best player to net consideration for the All-Star weekend.