The Cleveland Cavaliers were on the verge of having four All-Stars last season. Now? They are only on track for one.
The first batch of fan votes has been released, and Donovan Mitchell is the only Cavalier
who is even close to being voted into the game. Mitchell ranks fifth in the Eastern Conference, while none of his teammates are in the top 20.
This would have shocked you back in October. But, given how this season has gone for Cleveland, it shouldn’t be all that surprising. Darius Garland has only recently started to play near his standards, Evan Mobley has been fairly underwhelming, and Jarrett Allen doesn’t have any sort of argument to be in the game this season.
Luka Doncic leads all players with more than 1.2 million votes, while Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the Eastern Conference. Tyrese Maxey has skyrocketed to second in the East, with Jalen Brunson and Cade Cunningham trailing behind him.
Jaylen Brown, Karl-Anthony Towns, and Jalen Johnson round out the top 10 for the Eastern Conference.
It’s possible that Cleveland will still find some additional representation. Not through the fan vote, but as reserves. Mobley has the strongest, if not the only, chance to join Mitchell. A strong month in January, combined with the Cavs turning this season around, would give him a solid case to make the game. Of course, that sounds like wishful thinking at this point, but it’s not impossible.
Last season was special. We all knew that in the moment. Everything that could go in Cleveland’s favor did so during the regular season. This year? It’s felt like the opposite. When it rains, it pours. And right now it’s been storming since late November.
The season is far from over, however. We’ve seen how quickly things can change in this league. We’ll hold out hope even if this first batch of votes has been disappointing.
