The Indiana Pacers have had at least one player named to the All-Star team in all but two years since 2012 (2015 and 2022). This includes Tyrese Haliburton earning the honor in each of the last two seasons. However, if the first returns of the fan voting for this year's All-Star Game are any indication, this run for the Pacers may come to an end.
On Thursday, NBA insider Shams Charania revealed the first returns of the fan voting for this year's All-Star Game. Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is the overall leading vote-getter, whereas reigning MVP Nikola Jokic is the leading vote-getter in the Western Conference.
The rest of the list includes notable players like LeBron James, Stephen Curry, and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander. The most notable to Pacers fans, however, is the lack of a single player from the team. This includes Haliburton and Pascal Siakam.
Pacers don't have a player in the running for the All-Star Game fan voting
Fan voting for the All-Star Game is not the be-all, end-all. However, it is noteworthy that no Pacer is even in consideration at the moment. Furthermore, it is an indication of just how lackluster the Pacers' season has been up to this point.
The Pacers are 16-18 and own the No. 8 seed in the East. They have struggled to get past the .500 for nearly the entire season and have looked outright bad numerous times this season. This was especially evident after their 37-point loss to the reigning champion Boston Celtics on December 27.
After making an Eastern Conference Finals appearance last season, the Pacers' play on the court is leaving a lot to be desired. Fortunately for the team, they are gradually getting healthier and have shown glimpses of reverting to the team that went on a deep playoff run last season. However, especially given how competitive the NBA is, these occasional hot streaks are not enough.
Realistically, nobody on the Pacers deserves an All-Star nod at this point. Haliburton has been too inconsistent this season, and Siakam simply is not playing at an All-Star level. Fortunately for them, there is still a lot of time to turn things around.
The Pacers still are not halfway through the season and they remain in the playoff hunt despite their slow start. However, it is crucial for the team to get back on the right track soon if they want to make another deep playoff run and potentially bring a title to Indiana.