LeBron James, Giannis Antetokounmpo lead latest round of NBA All-Star voting
Kevin Durant, Joel Embiid, Nikola Jokić and Jayson Tatum are also among the top vote-getters
Familiar names remain at the top of fan balloting for the NBA All-Star Game.
Milwaukee Bucks star Giannis Antetokounmpo is the leading vote-getter in the league, while Los Angeles Lakers' LeBron James tops fan balloting in the West for the third round of results reported by the NBA on Thursday. Fan voting concludes Saturday and will be weighted 50% in determining All-Star starters. NBA players and media will account for 25% each.
Sixers' Joel Embiid and Celtics' Jayson Tatum are second and third, respectively, in frontcourt voting in the East. They and Antetokounmpo are joined in the starting lineup by leading vote-getters Tyrese Haliburton of the Pacers and and Trae Young of the Hawks based on this round of voting. Bucks guard Damian Lillard (1,730,036) trails Young (1,815,898) for the second and final backcourt spot in the East with voting scheduled to conclude in two days.
In the West, James would be joined by Nuggets' Nikola Jokić and Suns' Kevin Durant in the frontcourt. Maverics' Luka Dončić and Warriors' Stephen Curry would start in the backcourt. Oklahoma City's Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2,331,113) trails Curry (2,616,154) for the second backcourt spot and is the closest player in the West to overtaking a starting spot as voted by fans.
LeBron James and Giannis Antetokounmpo lead their respective conferences in the third fan returns of #NBAAllStar Voting presented by AT&T.
Fans account for 50% of the vote to decide All-Star starters. NBA players and a media panel account for 25% each. pic.twitter.com/fyGeQXgEhH— NBA Communications (@NBAPR) January 18, 2024
The NBA is returning to the the East vs. West All-Star format for the first time in seven years. Since 2018, the league has let captains select teams from a pool of starters who were voted in and reserves selected by league coaches. Captains were the lead vote-getters in each conference.
James has been a captain for every year of the format. Either Antetokounmpo or Curry were captains opposite of James.
The All-Star game is scheduled for Feb. 18 (8:30 p.m. ET, TNT) in Indianapolis.
