The Celtics need more campaigns for two players to become All-Star starters

Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum is currently in line to start the NBA All-Star Game for the third straight season.

However, Jaylen Brown and Derrick White have work to do if they want the same honor.

NBA released his first fan comeback on Thursday – fans make up 50% of the All-Star vote, while a media panel and players each account for 25% – as the Celtics trio landed in the top 10 of the voting at their respective positions. Tatum received nearly 1.4 million votes to put him behind only Giannis Antetokounmpo (1.7 million) for frontcourt players in the Eastern Conference. Brown came in fifth with 433,636 votes, while White was 10th for guards with 120,706.

The Celtics are sure to do more campaigning on White’s behalf in the coming weeks with the All-Star game just over a month away. Unlike Tatum and Brown, White has never participated in the marquee exhibition. Tatum is a five-time All-Star, while Brown received the accolade three times, including each of the last two seasons.

White, a two-time All-Defensive selection, blossomed into a star with the Celtics and is averaging a career-high 16.8 points this season while shooting 45.2% from the field and 39.2% from 3-point range range. He also contributes 4.6 assists, 4.6 rebounds and 1.2 blocks per game. But a cold spell in December could have hurt White’s All-Star chances.

Tatum seems like a lock to start the contest, while Brown has a good chance to join him at the Chase Center in San Francisco on February 16.

All-Star Game will look very different this season, with the NBA going to a new format to try and breathe some life back into the game. The game will look like a mini-tournament with four teams and three matches. The teams will consist of eight players, and Charles Barkley, Shaquille O’Neal and Kenny Smith will draft the teams on February 6. The fourth team will be the winning team from the Rising Stars game.