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Reading: In 2017, The NBA Had To Create The “Zaza Rule” To Keep Zaza Pachulia From Starting In The All-Star Game
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Home > NBA News & Analysis > In 2017, The NBA Had To Create The “Zaza Rule” To Keep Zaza Pachulia From Starting In The All-Star Game

In 2017, The NBA Had To Create The “Zaza Rule” To Keep Zaza Pachulia From Starting In The All-Star Game

Nico Martinez
Jan 29, 2021
2 Min Read
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The NBA All-Star fan voting system is a pretty cool way for fans to feel engaged and connected to the league. By voting in their picks for the All-Star starters, they get to feel like a part of the process.

Of course, where fans are involved, there’s usually some trouble that follows.

The NBA discovered that the hard way in 2017, when veteran big man Zaza Pachulia, who was averaging 6 points per game that season, received over 400,000 votes — surpassing guys like DeMarcus Cousins, Anthony Davis, and Marc Gasol.

To prevent an embarrassing outcome, the league had to institute the “Zaza rule,” which counted player and media votes in the selection process.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CKmp13ij2vn

It was just the first return of votes, but it really is amazing that Zaza was able to get so close to becoming an All-Star starter.

Had that rule not been created, we likely would have seen something similar this season. Guys like Alex Caruso, Tacko Fall, Bol Bol, and Boban Marjanovic jump out as some names the fans would have really pushed for.

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Needless to say, the “Zaza rule” was probably a good thing for the NBA, even if some fans disagree.

The point of the All-Star game, after all, is to let the fans see the matchups they want to see. Usually, the NBA’s best players happen to also be the most popular.

In rare cases, like with Zaza, a player might have a large fan base based on their country of origin or simply for the memes.

Either way, never underestimate the power of the NBA community…

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ByNico Martinez
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Nico Martinez is a veteran staff writer for Fadeaway World from Brooklyn, New York. He joined Fadeaway World in 2016 and is currently residing in Columbia, South Carolina. Nico holds a degree in Sports Management from Columbia International University where he built a strong foundation in the inner workings of sports media and management. Nico's contributions have significantly enhanced the credibility and depth of Fadeaway World's content, earning him recognition across the sports journalism community. His work has been discussed in prestigious publications like Sports Illustrated. A dedicated follower of LeBron James, Nico often leads coverage on news related to the basketball star. With nearly a decade of experience in sports journalism, Nico consistently provides comprehensive and timely basketball news, engaging a wide audience of basketball enthusiasts.Nico's most desired player to interview, past or present, is Kevin Durant. He is particularly keen on asking Durant if he has any regrets about his career, especially concerning his departure from the Oklahoma City Thunder, and why he engages so much with fans on social media. 
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