More than half of the credentialed voters–13 publications–have selected their rosters for the 2018 VTB United League All-Star Game. Here are the results, which could still see significant changes in the coming weeks.
The media has been asked to pick 10 players: 5 backcourt and 5 frontcourt
| Russian Stars | ||
| Backcourt | ||
| Player | Team | Votes |
| Dmitry Kulagin | Lokomotiv-Kuban | 13 |
| Alexey Shved | Khimki | 13 |
| Anton Ponkrashov | UNICS | 12 |
| Dmitry Khvostov | Lokomotiv-Kuban | 11 |
| Ivan Strebkov | Nizhny Novgorod | 6 |
| Ivan Ukhov | PARMA | 6 |
| Evgeny Voronov | Zenit | 3 |
| Mikhail Kulagin | CSKA | 1 |
| Frontcourt | ||
| Player | Team | Votes |
| Sergey Karasev | Zenit | 13 |
| Nikita Kurbanov | CSKA | 13 |
| Andrey Vorontsevich | CSKA | 11 |
| Artem Klimenko | Avtodor | 8 |
| Petr Gubanov | Nizhny Novgorod | 7 |
| Sergey Monia | Khimki | 7 |
| Andrey Zubkov | Khimki | 3 |
| Evgeny Valiev | Zenit | 1 |
| Alexander Zakharov | Nizhny Novgorod | 1 |
| Pavel Antipov | Lokomotiv-Kuban | 1 |
Russian Stars: Guards
For the second consecutive year, Khimki leader and the League’s leading scorer Alexey Shved picked up 100% of the votes. Lokomotiv-Kuban’s Dmitry Kulagin, who’s enjoying a breakout season in Krasnodar, is tied with Shved with 13 votes.
Two Russian national team guards, Anton Ponkrashov (UNICS) and Dmitry Khvostov (Lokomotiv-Kuban), are ranked 3rd and 4th, respectively. Ponkrashov leads by a single vote (12-11).
Ivan Strebkov (Nizhny Novgorod) and Ivan Ukhov (PARMA) are fighting for the final spot. The Nizhny Novgorod star was voted into the All-Star Game last season, but couldn’t play because of an injury. Ukhov traveled to Sochi to compete in the Three-Point Contest.
Mikhail Kulagin (CSKA) picked up one vote. Latvia’s Diena.lv cast a vote for one of Russia’s most intriguing prospects.
Russian Stars: Forwards
Sergey Karasev (Zenit) and Alexey Shved are also competing to see who gets the most All-Star Game votes. So far, both have received the maximum possible: 13-13. It’s not surprising that the League’s best defensive player in 2016-17, Nikita Kurbanov (CSKA), is also on everyone’s list. Kurbanov is averaging a career-high 12.8 efficiency rating this season.
Andrey Vorontsevich (CSKA) is in 3rd place. Only two outlets did not include the defending All-Star Game MVP on their rosters for St. Petersburg.
There’s an interesting battle for 4th and 5th place between Artem Klimenko (Avtodor), Petr Gubanov (Nizhny Novgorod) and Sergey Monia (Khimki). The hope of Saratov basketball, the Nizhny Novgorod star or Khimki’s decorated captain: Who will be the odd man out?
Russian Stars: Dmitry Kulagin (Lokomotiv-Kuban), Alexey Shved (Khimki), Anton Ponkrashov (UNICS), Dmitry Khvostov (Lokomotiv-Kuban), Ivan Strebkov (Nizhny Novgorod)/Ivan Ukhov (PARMA), Sergey Karasev (Zenit), Nikita Kurbanov (CSKA), Andrey Vorontsevich (CSKA), Artem Klimenko (Avtodor), Sergey Monia (Khimki)/Petr Gubanov (Nizhny Novgorod).
| World Stars | ||
| Backcourt | ||
| Player | Team | Votes |
| Sergio Rodriguez | CSKA | 11 |
| Quino Colom | UNICS | 11 |
| Nando De Colo | CSKA | 11 |
| Justin Carter | Astana | 9 |
| Codi Miller-McIntyre | PARMA | 8 |
| Stefan Markovic | Khimki | 6 |
| Isaiah Briscoe | Kalev | 4 |
| Anthony Hilliard | Enisey | 4 |
| Justin Robinson | Avtodor | 1 |
| Frontcourt | ||
| Player | Team | Votes |
| Drew Gordon | Zenit | 12 |
| Frank Elegar | Lokomotiv-Kuban | 11 |
| Stephane Lasme | UNICS | 8 |
| Anthony Gill | Khimki | 7 |
| Coty Clarke | Avtodor | 6 |
| Mardy Collins | Lokomotiv-Kuban | 5 |
| Kyle Hines | CSKA | 4 |
| Stefan Jelovac | Nizhny Novgorod | 4 |
| Mareks Mejeris | VEF | 3 |
| Ryan Broekhoff | Lokomotiv-Kuban | 2 |
| Christopher Czerapowicz | Tsmoki-Minsk | 1 |
| Suleiman Braimoh | Enisey | 1 |
| Thomas van der Mars | Kalev | 1 |
World Stars: Guards
The battle between Sergio Rodriguez (CSKA), Quino Colom (UNICS) and Nando De Colo (CSKA) has been more competitive than expected. All three received 11 of 13 votes and share 1st place. Who will finish on top in the All-Star vote: Moscow or Kazan? One of the Spaniards or the Frenchman?
The vote-getter in the fan vote and one of the League’s leading scorers, Justin Carter (Astana), is in 4th place. Last season, Astana did not have a single representative at the All-Star Game or in any of the contests.
Codi Miller-McIntyre (PARMA) is breathing down Carter’s neck. The American guard leads the League in assists and earned eight of 13 votes.
There’s a big group chasing the top five. The list includes Khimki’s Stefan Markovic, who played in the All-Star Game last season, Enisey’s leading scorer Anthony Hilliard, a four-year League veteran, and Kalev star Isaiah Briscoe, who’s 2nd in scoring behind Alexey Shved.
World Stars: Forwards
Drew Gordon (Zenit) picked up 12 of 13 votes thanks to his high-flying brand of basketball. The forward is a regular on the VTB-League.com Top Plays and also leads the League in rebounds.
Frank Elegar (Lokomotiv-Kuban) is popular with the media, too, after bringing his daughter to last year’s All-Star Game in Sochi. He’s enjoying a terrific season at Lokomotiv-Kuban and picks up 11 votes in All-Star voting.
There’s a fierce battle for the final three spots. Stephane Lasme (UNICS), Anthony Gill (Khimki) and Coty Clarke (Avtodor) would make the All-Star Game if voting ended today, but that could change quickly with only a couple votes separating 5th and 8th place.
Mardy Collins (Lokomotiv-Kuban) was the League’s January MVP, Stefan Jelovac (Nizhny Novgorod) has cranked up his scoring in recent weeks and Kyle Hines (CSKA) already has more votes than he did last season, when he missed out on a trip to Sochi.
Don’t forget about the rest of the pack, either: Mareks Mejeris (VEF), Ryan Broekhoff (Lokomotiv-Kuban), Christopher Czerapowicz (Tsmoki-Minsk), Suleiman Braimoh (Enisey) and Thomas van der Mars (Kalev) could all make the team with a strong final push.
World Stars: Sergio Rodriguez (CSKA), Quino Colom (UNICS), Nando De Colo (CSKA), Justin Carter (Astana), Codi Miller-McIntyre (PARMA), Coty Clarke (Avtodor), Drew Gordon (Zenit), Anthony Gill (Khimki), Frank Elegar (Lokomotiv-Kuban), Stephane Lasme (UNICS).
Stay tuned for the final results!
