Los Angeles Lakers forward LeBron James and Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant lead the Western and Eastern Conferences, respectively, in the first fan returns of NBA All-Star Voting.
Joining James (West frontcourt) and Durant (East frontcourt) as top vote-getters at their respective position groups are the Golden State Warriors’ Stephen Curry (West guard) and the Nets’ Kyrie Irving (East guard).
Milwaukee Bucks' Giannis Antetokounmpo is just 1,673 votes shy of three million, and he put up a career-high 55 points against the Washington Wizards on Tuesday. Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers has exploded after a slow start, and has helped his team win 11 of its last 13 games. Luka Doncic has in recent times been doing historic things for the Dallas Mavericks. Nikola Jokic continues to be his excellent.
James and Durant remain two of the most recognizable names in the sport, regardless of performance, so it's not surprising that early voting favors them. But as voting continues, they could be given a run for their money by fans of the talented players snapping at their heels.
Voting for the NBA All-Star Game began on Dec. 20 and will end on Jan. 21. The fan vote accounts for 50% of a player's vote total, with 25% coming from the media and the final 25% coming from the players themselves.
The 72nd NBA All Star Weekend holds in Salt Lake City, Utah between February 17 - 19.