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Early returns on 2020 All-Star voting say a lot about the San Antonio Spurs’ top players

By Dylan Carter

ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 05: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs converses with LaMarcus Aldridge #12 prior to taking free throws in the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on November 05, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GEORGIA - NOVEMBER 05: DeMar DeRozan #10 of the San Antonio Spurs converses with LaMarcus Aldridge #12 prior to taking free throws in the second half against the Atlanta Hawks at State Farm Arena on November 05, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /
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The NBA released early returns on the fan voting portion of the 2020 All-Star game and no one from the San Antonio Spurs cracked the list.

WIth an abundance of talent in the rigid Western Conference, I don’t think anyone expected a member of the San Antonio Spurs to crack the starting five of the All-Star game this year.

The team’s two leading-scorers, wing DeMar DeRozan and forward LaMarcus Aldridge, aren’t flashy players by any means with the majority of their buckets coming from the mid-range and painted area. Though DeRozan can put on a dunk clinic when he really tries and Aldridge has made the game seven times before, neither is a particularly beloved figure by the general NBA public.

To kick off the new year, the NBA released its first wave of voting results in conjunction with a double-vote day. The list didn’t have a single Spurs player in sight, which says quite a bit about this year’s club.

According to WorldPopulationReview.com, San Antonio has a population of 1.5 million people as of 2019. The Spurs are the city’s only team across the United States’ four major professional sports and the fans are as passionate about them as any fanbase in the nation. Between the in-city fanbase and the hundreds of thousands of people who fell in love with their approach to the game over many years, the team’s fanbase is enormous.

The first returns from #VoteNBAAllStar 2020!

Make YOUR vote count twice today by voting here ➡️ https://t.co/VMuxMjeZQO pic.twitter.com/qRzXqLxMti

— NBA (@NBA) January 2, 2020

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If the Spurs’ top guys aren’t’ showing up in the Top 10, it’s probably because the fans don’t quite believe they deserve it. San Antonio has its worst record in years and hasn’t shown a great effort on defense. While the top players, DeRozan and Aldridge, remain at the helm, the fans are way more excited for the young guns – Dejounte Murray, Derrick White and, of course, Lonnie Walker IV.

It also sends the message that the national audience agrees with that sentiment. Fans would rather give a vote to guys like Alex Caruso and Dwight Howard than the Spurs’ head duo. That should serve as motivation for Aldridge and DeRozan heading into the second portion of the season.

Whether or not Aldridge and DeRozan end up in Chicago for the All-Star break is undetermined. Coaches and other players recognize their game and oftentimes, help land the duo on All-Star rosters. However, missing the game could be a huge wake-up call for these players.

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San Antonio was supposed to take a step forward this year with a retooled and refreshed roster, but they’ve taken a step back instead. What comes next is in the hands of the players and coaches, but no one wants to miss the playoffs – especially for a team that hasn’t missed the postseason since the late-nineties.